By Chika Eze, Abuja
In a swift reaction to his own suspension, the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has announced the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, and several other National Working Committee (NWC) members for alleged anti-party activities.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Saturday, Anyanwu said the decision followed an emergency meeting of the National Legal and Disciplinary Committee of the party (NLDCA), which he convened in accordance with the PDP constitution.
According to him, “As National Secretary of the party, who has the constitutional mandate to summon meetings of the NWC, any other meeting not convened by me is null and void.”
He said the emergency meeting reviewed the recent court judgment and the activities of some NWC members and resolved to suspend Damagum for one month “for incompetence, misappropriation of party funds, and disobedience of court judgments.”
Anyanwu alleged that Damagum had ignored legal advice and continued to retain an expelled officer in the NWC, thereby invalidating meetings and decisions taken in violation of the party’s constitution and court rulings.
Others suspended for 30 days include the Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba; National Financial Secretary; National Youth Leader, Muhammad Kadede; and Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo.
Anyanwu accused the officials of various infractions, including financial misconduct, illegal correspondences, and failure to mobilize party organs effectively. He said all suspended officials have been referred to the disciplinary committee for further investigation and possible expulsion.
“We commend the judiciary for the judgment of yesterday, which is a victory for the entire PDP members across the country,” he said. “However, we cannot overlook the activities of some NWC members who have caused disaffection and led to the exit of some of our governors and stakeholders from the party.”
He named the North Central National Vice Chairman as Acting National Chairman, and the party’s Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, as Acting Publicity Secretary.
Responding to questions on the legality of his action, Anyanwu insisted he was acting within his powers. “Every notice for any meeting of the NWC must be issued by the National Secretary as stipulated in Section 36(1)(g-h) of our constitution. What they did earlier was unlawful,” he stated.
He also dismissed suggestions that the crisis was being fueled by external influence or lack of internal conflict resolution, saying, “If our governors and leaders are leaving the party, it shows weakness in leadership. That is why we have to act now to save the PDP.”
The development marks a new twist in the escalating leadership crisis rocking the opposition party, following Friday’s court ruling that halted preparations for its planned national convention.