The PDP appointed its Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagum, as the acting national chairman.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed its Deputy National Chairman, Umar Damagum (North), as its acting national chairman.
Mr Damagun takes over from Iyorchia Ayu, who was barred by a Benue Court on Monday from parading himself as the party’s national chairman.
This was contained in a statement by the PDP spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, on Tuesday.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party at an emergency meeting today, Tuesday, March 28, acknowledged the Order of the Benue State High Court, dated March 27, 2023 with regards to the chairmanship position of our great party.
“After a careful consideration of the Court Order and in line with Section 45 (2) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), the NWC resolved that the Deputy National Chairman (North) His Excellency, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagun assumes the National Chairmanship of our great Party in acting capacity with effect from today, Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members and supporters of our great Party to remain calm and united at this critical time.”
W.I. Kpochi, a judge of the Benue High Court, Makurdi, had on Monday issued an interim injunction restraining Mr Ayu from parading himself as the party’s chairman.
He issued the order following an ex parte application brought by a member of the party in the state, Terhide Utaan.
The order came a day after Mr Ayu was suspended by his ward, Igyorov Ward, in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.
The Ward Secretary, Vangeryina Dooyum, who announced Mr Ayu’s suspension, said the national chairman worked against the success of the PDP in the ward.
He also blamed Mr Ayu for the party’s abysmal outing in the 18 March governorship and state assembly election in Benue State.
Mr Dooyum stated that close allies of the embattled national chairman worked against the PDP thus making the APC to secure victory in the elections.
Reacting to his suspension, the national chairman, in a statement on Monday by his media aide, Simon Imobo-Tswan, described the action as an exercise in futility. He stated that only the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) could order his suspension.
“The purported suspension is, therefore, an exercise in futility as it derives its strength majorly from gross illiteracy, ignorance, gambling and desperation. It has only mischief, drama and propaganda value,” the statement said.
The ward suspended Mr Ayu barely three days after the PDP NWC referred Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, to a party’s disciplinary committee for alleged anti-party activities.
Apart from Mr Ortom, the party, on the same day, Friday 24 March, suspended other prominent members, including a former Senate President, Pius Anyim; former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, and former Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema.
The party had recently expelled a former governor of Enugu State and serving senator, Chimaroke Nnamani, for alleged anti-party activities.
It also suspended and expelled other members in Imo and Ekiti, including Mr Fayose’s son, Oluwajomiloju.
The battle with G-5 Governors
Mr Ortom is a member of the G-5 Governors who have been demanding the resignation of Mr Ayu from office.
Other governors in the group led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, are Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo).
They asked Mr Ayu to resign to pave way for a southerner to lead the PDP since its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, hails from the north as the national chairman.
Mr Ayu, however, repeatedly rebuked the governors and vowed not to quit having been elected for a four-year term.
The main opposition went into the recent general elections in that state of division. It did not only lose the presidential election to the APC candidate, Bola Tinubu, but also lost the governorship and two senatorial seats in Benue, the home state of the national chairman.
Mr Ortom who was the PDP candidate for Benue North West Senatorial District, was one of those who lost the election. The governor, it was learnt, blamed his loss on the national chairman, who also hails from the senatorial district.
A few days before the election, he had declared support for the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying he was the best person to lead the country at this point.
There are indications that other members of the G-5 Governors did not work for Atiku during the electioneering.
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