The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party, is currently in turmoil.

The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) is split into two factions, with each side suspending national officers from the opposing camp.

Trouble began during an NWC meeting that was convened hours after a meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) on Friday.

Twelve out of the 19 members of the NWC attended the meeting, which was held in the NWC conference room at the party’s National Secretariat to deliberate on the state of the party, preparations for the upcoming Ondo State Governorship Election, and preparations for the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for October 24.

According to a party source privy to the events, the atmosphere became chaotic when the issue of the recent state congresses, particularly in Rivers State, was raised.

The source reported, “Voices were raised, tables were banged, but no one slapped anybody. We were civil enough to deliberate on the issues to the point where we had to take a vote on whether or not the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, should be suspended and investigated for insubordination and abuse of office.”

This sentiment was echoed by the party’s National Director of Publicity, Chinwe I. Nnorom, in a statement issued shortly afterward.

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She stated, “The NWC of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), arising from its 593rd meeting today, Thursday, October 10, 2024, has directed the National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Hon. Debo Ologunagba, and the National Legal Adviser (NLA), Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, to step aside, respectively.

“As a result, the NWC constituted a committee, chaired by the Deputy National Chairman (South), H.E. Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the issues raised against the officers in compliance with the provisions of the party’s constitution.

“Following the NWC’s decision, it directed their respective deputies (DNPS and DNLA) to assume office in an acting capacity effective Friday, October 11, 2024, pending the conclusion of the investigation. The officers are:

“Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga, Esq. (Acting National Publicity Secretary) and Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha (Acting National Legal Adviser).”

In his maiden press briefing after being announced as the Acting National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi explained that the suspension of the two national officers followed due process.

Abdullahi stated, “The NWC reached this conclusion by voting; out of the twelve members present, eight voted in favor of the suspension, while four voted against it.”

Earlier, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba issued a counter statement announcing the suspension of the PDP Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, and the National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, over alleged anti-party activities.

He said, “The NWC of the PDP has extensively considered the series of complaints raised against the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum, and the National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, particularly concerning the letter they addressed to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/PH/307/2024, regarding the party’s position in the case involving 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who vacated their seats after decamping from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The NWC condemned this anti-party activity of the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary, which is a gross violation of the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) and their Oath of Office.

“Consequently, the NWC, pursuant to Sections 57, 58, and 59 of the PDP Constitution, has suspended Amb. Illiya Damagum and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party, respectively, and referred them to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.

“In the meantime, the two officials are suspended from all meetings, activities, and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of the investigation by the National Disciplinary Committee.”

He followed this up with another statement announcing the appointment of the party’s National Treasurer, Yayari Mohammed, as Damagum’s replacement as Acting National Chairman.

In response, Abdullahi, speaking on behalf of the Damagum-led NWC, questioned where Ologunagba and his team had met, as the NWC meeting that suspended him and the Legal Adviser was not held in secret.

He acknowledged that disputes and their resolutions are part of party politics.

Abdullahi noted that for a party the size of the PDP, it was normal for members to disagree on issues.

He stated, “We are a democratic party; that is why every member wants to remain. We have people who are on the other side, but they don’t want to relinquish their membership.

“We are the only political party that has survived over two decades since independence.

“With 13 governors, you would expect some internal bickering, but we have mechanisms in place for resolving our problems.”

When asked why the two national officers were not referred to the Chief Tom Ikimi-led Disciplinary Committee, he explained that the Ikimi committee was given a broader responsibility to address general cases.

Abdullahi added, “The BoT (at its meeting on Thursday) only advised the National Chairman to look into contentious issues regarding the recently concluded nationwide congresses, including the situation in Rivers State.

“The two officials will be investigated for two weeks, after which, if found innocent, they will be restored to their positions.”

Regarding Rivers, he stated, “Rivers is still a PDP state. The Governor, Siminlaye Fubara, has not informed anyone that he is leaving the party, and there is no indication that he will do so. Something good is going to come out of this, I assure you.”

Meanwhile, news emerged that an Abuja High Court had issued an order restraining the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) from removing Damagum from office until December.

BoT Breaks Silence, Calls for Return to Status Quo

The Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, on behalf of the board members, called for calm.

In a statement he signed in Abuja yesterday, Wabara said, “In light of the ongoing internal crisis within the National Working Committee (NWC