Fresh crisis has hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the faction loyal to the party’s former National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, announced the suspension of the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and five other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
Anyanwu, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Saturday, said the decision was taken by his factional NWC after what he described as “acts of incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgment” by Damagum.
He said the group had appointed the party’s National Vice Chairman (North-Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the new Acting National Chairman pending further decisions.
“On this note, we decided to suspend the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, for incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgment. He has been suspended for one month and should face the Disciplinary Committee,” Anyanwu declared.
He also announced the suspension of five other key members of the NWC, including the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja. Others suspended are the National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyengikoro; the National Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade; and the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo.
According to him, all those suspended will appear before the party’s Disciplinary Committee within 30 days to defend themselves and explain why they should not be expelled from the party.
“The National Vice Chairman (North-Central) will now serve as Acting National Chairman, pending the outcome of the committee’s report,” he added.
The development marks a new twist in the lingering leadership battle within the PDP, which has struggled to maintain unity since its defeat in the 2023 general elections. The party has been sharply divided between loyalists of different political blocs, especially in the South-East and North-East regions.
The crisis took a deeper turn earlier in the week when the Damagum-led NWC announced the suspension of Senator Samuel Anyanwu himself, alongside the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and two others. That decision, reportedly made over alleged anti-party activities, drew strong reactions from the Anyanwu camp, which dismissed it as illegal and politically motivated.
With both factions now suspending each other, the PDP faces a major leadership vacuum at the national level. Party sources say the ongoing tussle could further weaken the opposition’s ability to play its role effectively as Nigeria’s main opposition party.
The PDP, once Nigeria’s dominant political force, has faced repeated internal conflicts since losing power to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. Efforts by party elders to mediate between the warring camps are expected to intensify in the coming days as pressure mounts to restore peace and stability within the opposition party.
