A group loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Monday took full control of Wadata Plaza, the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and installed Muhammed Abdulrahman as acting national chairman.
BusinessDay gathered that, perhaps in a bid to avert a bloodbath, the Umar Damagum-led faction did not show up at the party secretariat.
Before their arrival, however, a combined security team, including the police, had cordoned off the secretariat.
The Wike group, led by the factional acting chairman, told journalists that they were on a mission to restructure the party.
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He assured that his mandate is to heal the party’s wounds, end factionalisation, reposition it, and ensure it remains law-abiding.
Abdulrahman, addressing journalists at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT office of the PDP where he said he was moving to the PDP headquarters, said “We are all aware of the current pitiable state of our glorious party because of the actions and inactions of our leaders and members. From being the ruling party for 16 uninterrupted years to being an opposition party for over 10 years now at the national level, from being a formidable opposition to a now humbled opposition owing to the unexplainable, unconscionable defections of Governors, Legislators and Council Chairmen, et al.
“I have accepted to become Acting National Chairman at this difficult time through the mercy of God and instrumentality of very critical stakeholders of this party.”
Abdulrahman successfully gained entrance into the office of the national chairman with the support of his supporters and some security operatives.
The team was accompanied by Samuel Anyanwu and others, even as the factional chairman said he has resumed and will reach out to others to make the party great again.
The current crisis followed Friday’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja which restrained the party from continuing with its planned convention in Ibadan pending compliance with the party’s constitution.
Three PDP officials — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo State Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia State Chairman), and Turnah Alabah George (South-South Zonal Secretary) had filed a case against the party were they said the ongoing preparations for the convention violated both the Electoral Act and the party’s internal rules.
Justice James Omotosho ruled that the convention be suspended until the party aligns its preparations with the PDP Constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act.
The judge ruled that the PDP failed to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before issuing notice for the convention, thereby breaching its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and INEC guidelines by neglecting to give the required 21-day notice to the electoral umpire.
Following the judgment, Damagum convened an emergency NWC meeting on Saturday and announced a one-month suspension of four members loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Those suspended are National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), Deputy Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha, and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature.
Addressing journalists after the meeting at Legacy House, Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary, said the decision followed a review of the conduct of some NWC members, which the committee described as gross indiscipline.
“The NWC reviewed the activities of some of its members and found that their recent conduct amounted to gross indiscipline and contravention of the constitution of our great party. Consequently, the committee resolved that they be suspended for one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action,” he said.
He also announced that Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, would act as National Secretary pending the outcome of the disciplinary process, while the Director of Legal Services, Jacob Otorkpa, would oversee the legal department in the interim.
In a swift counter-move, the suspended members loyal to Wike, led by Anyanwu, also met and announced the suspension of Damagum and five other national officers.
Read also: PDP crisis deepens as party breaks into two factions, following Anyanwu, 3 others suspension
Anyanwu said the decision was taken “to save the party from collapse” and restore credibility to its leadership.
He declared that Damagum was suspended “for incompetence, mismanagement of party funds, and alleged disobedience to court orders.”
According to him, the National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, had been appointed Acting National Chairman in Damagum’s place.
Others he announced as suspended for “complicity in anti-party activities, financial misconduct, and dereliction of duty” were Ologunagba, National Deputy Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro; National Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade; and Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo.
