A faction of the People’s Democratic Party recently accused the acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, of orchestrating a plot to undermine the party’s interests in Rivers State.
The faction claimed that Damagum and Anyanwu were working against the party’s legal team, led by National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, in a court case involving the defection of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress.
The faction led by a member of the House of Representatives, Ikenga Ugochinyere, alleged in a press statement made available to journalists in Abuja that Damagum and Anyanwu had filed an appeal against an interim court order restraining the APC members from taking any action, despite the National Legal Adviser’s decision to withdraw the appeal.
This action, they claimed, was a blatant disregard for the party’s constitution and a betrayal of the trust placed in them as leaders.
The opposition spokesman went further to state that Damagum and Anyawu were opposing Ajibade’s move to ensure that the pro-Wike sacked APC lawmakers who decamped from PDP were neutralized and stopped from doing any harm to PDP interest but the PDP chairman and secretary were working in favour of the pro-Wike APC sacked lawmakers to help them regain lost legitimacy to aid them make another attempt towards their impossible dream of removal of their own PDP Governor, Sim Fubara-led Rivers government.
The case, marked PHC/2177/CS/2024, centres on a dispute over the defection of 27 PDP members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the All Progressives Congress on December 11, 2023.
Ugochinyere explained that the Rivers State High Court had previously issued an ex parte order on July 8, 2024, restraining key state officials from interacting with the defected lawmakers.
However, he alleged that former Governor Nyesom Wike, in what he described as an “anti-party” manoeuvre, retained Dr. J.Y. Musa, SAN, to file an unauthorized appeal against this order, despite opposition from Ajibade.
“You cannot be a member of the PDP and be a member of another party. You can’t be a member of the PDP and at the same time be enriching and influencing other members to buy the PDP”
“The National Legal Adviser, constitutionally empowered to protect the interests of the PDP, had already moved to withdraw the appeal on July 24, 2024, recognizing its potential harm to the party.
“However, in a shocking turn of events, on August 15, 2024, Damagum and Anyanwu sent a letter to the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, dissociating themselves from the withdrawal, effectively undermining the Legal Adviser’s authority,” Ugochinyere stated.
The opposition coalition lawmakers argue that this action by the party’s leadership was part of a broader scheme to destabilize the PDP in Rivers State and pave the way for the APC’s political ambitions.
They claimed that this was not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of interference by Damagum and Anyanwu in several other legal cases in Abuja and Port Harcourt, all allegedly aimed at weakening the PDP.
Ugochinyere warned of dire consequences if this plot was allowed to succeed, including the erosion of internal democracy within the PDP, potential fragmentation of the party, loss of public trust, and significant legal and financial repercussions.
He called for immediate action, including reaffirming the authority of the National Legal Adviser, taking legal steps to restrain the National Chairman and Secretary from further interference, and convening a disciplinary committee to investigate their actions.
“The PDP must stand united in the face of this betrayal. We call on all members of the PDP and well-meaning Nigerians to join us in defending the integrity of our party and ensuring that justice prevails,” Ugochinyere urged.
‘Wike a coward, lacks courage to quit PDP’
The festering PDP crisis took a new dimension when a member of the Board of Trustees and close associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Abdul Ningi, said the party was not the property of any individual and would resist attempts to diminish its influence.
In a similar vein, a former national legal adviser of PDP and Kaduna State Commissioner for Justice, Mark Jacob, criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, calling him a coward for not having the courage to leave PDP, despite his ceaseless disparagement of the party.
Ningi emphasised, “PDP has a history and it was not formed a decade ago. It was formed more than two decades ago by some of the best political brains in the country.
“When I look at people comparing their powers to that of the PDP, I’m always taken aback. Remember, 24 years ago, most of these key actors that are in place are products of this party; they would not have been anything if not for the PDP.
“PDP is a party that has produced three presidents; PDP is above individuals. You need to understand the mind-set of some key actors is that this party must not survive.
“This party does not warrant our sympathy because at a time in the immediate past, some people did not get what they wanted. The key actors are members of the PDP; otherwise, there wouldn’t have been a crisis.”
Ningi stressed, “You cannot be a member of the PDP and be a member of another party. You can’t be a member of the PDP and at the same time be enriching and influencing other members to buy the PDP.”
He emphasised the importance of loyalty.
Ningi also discussed concerns over a sitting PDP governor potentially leaving the party, saying, “It really disturbed us, so we reached out to him, and he confirmed to us that he will remain in the party.
“We came back after talking to him with all the information we had, but we are not bringing this information into the public domain because part of the crisis has to do with the current Minister of the FCT.”
Jacob, on his part, maintained that Wike’s continued stay in PDP that he “bashes every now and then” smacked of lack of integrity.
He explained that in his time as the national legal adviser, such action would not be tolerated.
“Wike is a coward who is not bold enough to leave the PDP and go to the APC.
“Having taken a stance against the PDP, a gentleman who wants to be respected should have resigned from the PDP. You cannot be kicking against the PDP and still claim you are with the PDP; it is complete irony, ungentlemanly, and lacking in integrity,” he said.
Jacob stressed that it was time people told Wike the truth, stating that no one can, in good conscience, claim to be a member of PDP while actively fighting against it.
‘It’s a sad day for anyone who identifies with the PDP’
He expressed his disappointment with the current state of PDP, saying, “It is a sad day for anyone who identifies with the PDP or is a member of the PDP.”
The PDP crisis deepened on Wednesday with the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, vowing not to be pressured into forceful exit by his critics.
His response followed a statement credited to the leader of the Ijaw Nation, Chief Edwin Clark, and a former spokesman of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan.
The duo had in their separate comments, condemned Damagum’s handling of the party’s affairs in Rivers state amid allegations of anti-party activities leveled against Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
Clark had accused Damagum of indulging Wike, who is allegedly undermining the PDP to pave the way for the governing APC’s continued stay in office.
The elder statesman was particularly put off that despite Wike’s alleged anti-party activities, Damagum looked the other way and failed to call him to order.
Similarly, a former National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, had in a recent television interview, called on the party’s National Working Committee to pass a vote of no confidence on Damagum, over his handling of the Rivers’ case.
Damagum, Wike fume, fire back
Taking on his critics, Damagum, while inaugurating the PDP’s National Disciplinary and Reconciliation committees, said, “I want to use this opportunity also to address a letter from our elder statesman that has been brought to my attention. I don’t intend to speak much on it.
“I will borrow Olisa Metuh’s remarks from 2015 when Edwin Clark left the party. There’s no doubt that he is an elder statesman.
“But I thought that when you reach that age, God has given you the opportunity and wisdom to be a father to all, not to engage in public arguments.
“He has all it takes to do the needful, not by taking a sentimental approach to the situation. I was not raised to be disrespectful to elders, so I don’t intend to dwell on this further.”
On Ologbodiyan and others, the PDP leader said, “I don’t know, maybe it is the wish of some for the party to die. But honestly speaking, as a dedicated member of this party, you should always speak positively of your party.
“Yes, we may have various interests, but the party will outlive all of us. Some of our founding fathers have left us, but the party is still functioning.
“And I am proud to say that today in this country, the only development you see everywhere comes from our governance.
“If you go to any state governed by the PDP, you will see the difference. It has been inherent in us; we have remained a very people-oriented party, bringing development to the people, and we stand out.
“So, sometimes I feel sad. I also want to use this opportunity to clear certain insinuations that have been trending on social media.
“Last time I checked, the signatories of this party are the chairman and the secretary. Just because the chairman and secretary signed a letter, it has become an issue. People are making all sorts of insinuations about it. I don’t want to engage with the other person—it’s a distraction.
“But it pains me when I see someone who knows the workings of the NWC going on television to mislead the audience and say things that are not correct. It is painful, very, very painful.
“There is precedent for what we did. During Kashamu’s case, the chairman and secretary brought it to the Supreme Court. There was also the issue of Anambra.
“Two issues arose. The chairman and secretary, in any situation, work as a team. I don’t make decisions without consulting my members,” Damagum further clarified.
He described the inauguration as a milestone in the party’s journey towards healing, understanding, and growth.
“We are all aware of the fallout of the primaries and the resultant effect it had on the outcome of the general elections across all states. The actions and inactions of some party members resulted in the current state of our party.
“This party has suffered a lot of damage resulting in the loss of the 2015, 2019, and 2023 general elections. However, the resilience of the party faithful has kept the party going and still a party to beat in the country.
“Since its inception, the party has evolved various mechanisms for addressing its internal conflicts. These include reconciliation, disciplinary measures, and other initiatives to embody fairness and equity. It is against this background that we have been selected to carry out this task,” he added.
Also speaking, FCT Minister Wike vowed to remain in the PDP and fight for justice.
He said this at a media parley to mark his first years in office.
Responding to reporters’ questions on whether he was joining the ruling APC, he said, “Anybody who knows me knows too well if I want to join APC today… when I was then PDP and I said ‘look, I will not support your presidential candidate’, did I say it secretly? Or those people that are saying those things did they bring one member that won election?
“Did PDP not win (in Rivers State)? I stood my ground in terms of principle that if this is not done, we will not accept it. People must know you for something. Integrity is very important. Forget about those that are saying this, they are afraid of my face.”
PDP divided now into three major sections – Bode George
Another PDP chieftain, Bode George, said there were about three divisions in the party. He said the opposition had lost its voice to challenge what he called the “nuisances and nuances going on in this country by the people in government.”
“We’ve got some deeper problems in the party. The party is almost divided now into three major sections and it’s not working,” he said.
George said he won’t serve as a member of the Disciplinary Committee formed by the party to probe errant members who worked against the party in the last general elections.
Recall the PDP on Wednesday, as part of efforts to address the ongoing crisis within its camp, inaugurated the Reconciliation Committee, chaired by former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and the Disciplinary Committee, led by Tom Ikimi.
George, a member of the PDP’s Board of Trustees said the party by the composition of the committee jumped the gun in the hierarchy, faulting his nomination as a member of the disciplinary committee to serve under Ikimi who he said joined the party later than he did.
George, who said there were party stakeholders who worked against the party in the last election based on the situation in various states, queried that the disciplinary committee was inaugurated “to try who?”
He said rather than constituting committees, issues that informed the crisis in the party should be resolved.
“And I said to them I can’t serve under him (Ikimi), because when did he join the party? We know within ourselves the various groupings that are dividing the party, that’s what the party should sit down first and resolve.
“I know Tom very well; he met me at this party. The founding fathers handed it over to us. So the culture of the party, the do’s and don’ts are with us. So you don’t make me be a member under somebody that I know in terms of hierarchy of the party, and say I should go and serve under him. I made that observation to them. And they said are you going to come, I said no I’m not.
“I will not serve under Ikimi. I’ve been very frank with myself. How much information or depth does he have concerning our party? You don’t do things like that. It’s an observation and I’ve told the Chairman. At this age, I’m ready to stay home.
“Just setting up a committee, where will it lead you?” He questioned, saying emphasis should have been made to relate matters to the Board of Trustees.
“The main responsibility of the board of trustees is that we hold in trust the ownership of the party and that’s why we don’t do elections in the board of trustees. We want justice, we want fairness and the chairman of the Board of Trustees accepted and waded into it.
“The party is still in various directions, for now, let’s get together. What we did that led us to this crisis had not been resolved. People who are fighting for the presidential candidature, the manoeuvring and all that, let’s resolve that,” he said.
George, who said the constitution of the committee is bent to one side of the divisions in the party, ruled out his active participation within the committee.
“The chairman of that committee is from one group, and the secretary of the committee is from the same group, so am I just to go there and sit and look like some undecided animal? No,” he said.
“We need to do a fundamental review of what went on during the last elections, come up with solutions, and reunite everybody because a divided house will always remain a defeated house.
“End of the road for PDP as Damagum, Bature and Anyanwu irredeemably destroyed the party. We will talk about the commercialisa-tion and privatisation of PDP. PDP is now once upon a time”
“This procedure we are wasting time, people are saying we are waiting for the PDP to provide a solid important opposition, rather than fighting within yourself,” he said
PDP has been commercialized, privatised – Melaye alleges
In the same vein, the 2023 Kogi State governorship candidate of the PDP, Dino Melaye, has claimed that the opposition party has been commercialised and privatised.
In a post via his X handle on Saturday, the former Kogi West Senator asserted that the PDP has lost its relevance in the country’s political space.
Melaye accused the acting PDP national chairman, Iliya Damagum, the national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and the national organising secretary, Umar Bature, of destroying the party.
He wrote, “End of the road for PDP as Damagum, Bature and Anyanwu irredeemably destroyed the party. We will talk about the commercialisation and privatisation of PDP. PDP is now once upon a time.”
We have issues and internal wrangling – Ologunagba
However, the PDP spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, denied the claim that the party has been commercialised, saying every party has issues and internal wrangling.
He said, “The party is not commercialised. I don’t know what he means by that. The party is standing.
“Every party has its own challenges because they are managing people with different interests, backgrounds, considerations and aspirations, and it is the capacity of the party that makes it a successful party. Upon then, there will be challenges.
“When you have systems and processes that allow for that (challenges), it shows that the party is not properly run. At each stage, there are other organs of the party, such as the Board of Trustees, the National Executive Committee, the Governors’ Forum, and the National Working Committee.
“There are safety nets for the management of the party and for review of processes in such a way that the party can reconcile all those competing and conflicting interests, so that’s what we do. So that the party is commercialised, well, I don’t know. I don’t want to speak to that. I don’t know what he means by commercialisation. I would assume that commercialisation means when you are selling something and you’re receiving money for sale, which is what Melaye referred to, and that’s not correct.”
Speaking further, Ologunagba said Melaye’s claim that the party is losing its relevance is incorrect, saying that the party has 13 governors and members in the National Assembly.
“If the PDP is once upon a time party, we won’t have 13 governors, House of Representatives members, and Senate members. So, I don’t know what he is referring to.
“In Edo State, for instance, if we are once upon a time, other members of the opposition won’t be joining our party, and we also have an outstanding candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo. If you go to Ondo State, people are moving into our party, decamping every day because the hope of Nigeria is in PDP. We recognise that, and that’s why we do our processes in such a way that Nigerians can begin to have the nostalgia of the good years of PDP so that we can get back to government in 2027, and that’s exactly what we are doing.
“So to say that the party has lost its relevance, that’s not correct. The party is strong. Yes, the party has challenges, and we must admit that because that is normal in human relations, we can’t take our eyes off the main issue of governance and providing for the good people of Nigeria. The claim is a misrepresentation of the facts and that’s not the position of the party.”
