PDP crisis worsens

• Party suspends secretary, others

• Anyanwu counters, announces Damagum, Arapaja, Ologunagba’s suspension

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) assumed a new twist yesterday, as the party ‘s National Working Committee (NWC) suspended the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, for one month for alleged anti-party activities.

Also suspended for one month for the same reasons were the  National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade and the deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who announced this after a meeting of the NWC at the Legacy House, Abuja,  said all the affected NWC members are to appear before the party’s National Disciplinary Committee.

“In the case of National Secretary, pursuant to section 36 (2) of the constitution as amended in 2017, the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Arch Setonji Koshedo shall act as National Secretary.

“In the case of the legal adviser and deputy legal adviser, the Director of Legal Services has been empowered and directed to oversee the department during the period of suspension,” Ologunagba stated.

However, in a counter move, Anyanwu, at a briefing, announced the suspension of Damagum, Taofeek Arapaja,  as National Chairman and Deputy National Chairman, respectively, for alleged incompetence and disobedience to court judgment. He named the National Vice Chairman North Central, Abdulraham Mohammed as acting National Chairman of the opposition party.

Anyanwu, who said the decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the (NWC) attended by nine members, also announced the suspension of Ologunagba;  Setonji Koshedo, Deputy National Secretary; Sulaiman Kadade, National Youth Leader, and Daniel  Woyenguikoro, National Financial Secretary.

According to him, “all of them are sent to the Disciplinary Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled from the party. Having said that, ladies and gentlemen, the party is strong. We still believe in the party. As a matter of fact, we are strong as a party. We are united.”

The suspension and counter suspension has brought a new dimension to the tussle for the control of the PDP in the run-up to the national convention of the opposition party.

Ahead of the PDP convention, the PDP Governors Forum and  loyalists of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has been at loggerheads over the control of party machinery.

The crisis, which stated with controversy over who is the rightful National Secretary of the PDP, escalated after the 101 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting fixed the National Convention for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Recently, the chairman of the Imo State chapter of the PDP, Austin Nwachukwu, his Abia State counterpart, Abraham Nnanna, and George Turnah, r filled a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking to halt plans for the convention pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Also,  Anyanwu had petitioned security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alleging that his signature in the correspondence to the electoral body on the National Convention was forged.

Nonetheless, both the PDP national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba and the chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees ( BoT) has dismissed the allegation as misleading.

On Thursday, a Federal High Court, in Abuja, in its judgment on the suit filed by the three aggrieved PDP members, directed  the opposition party to halt the convention, stating that the party failed to comply with relevant provisions of its rules and the Electoral Act.

Ologunagba told journalists that the suspension of Anyanwu, Bature, Ajibade and Osuoha was a follow-up to the reprimand issued by the party in August against members suspected to be engaged in anti-party activities.

According to him, Section 58 of the PDP Constitution frowns at any action or utterances by members that brings the party to disrepute, or the refusal of any officer to carry out the directive of any organ of the party.