In a bid to put a halt to the lingering crises in the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, an emergency meeting has been scheduled for Monday. Didactic Information Hut reports that the meeting is summoned by the PDP Governors Forum headed by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
Bala Mohammed had on Friday held a closed-door meeting with the suspended factional acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, to revert to the status quo.
A senior party member who spoke with The PUNCH confirmed that the PDP Governors Forum has called for an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss various concerns regarding the party’s future.
The source, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to comment, also revealed that PDP stakeholders are considering setting up a caretaker committee to guide the party toward a national convention to elect a new national working committee.
Since assuming the role of acting national chairman following Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s removal from the court, Damagum has faced criticism from party officials over the ongoing crisis in the PDP and calls for his resignation.
Damagum’s indecision contributed to the tense political situation in River State between Governor Sim Fubara and his predecessor, Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
On Friday, in a surprise development, the Damagum faction of the NWC, through the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chinwe Nnorom, announced the suspension of National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) for being insubordinate and defiant to the party.
Shortly thereafter, according to a statement signed by Ologunagba, the NWC suspended National Secretaries Damagum and Samuel Anyanwu for alleged disloyalty to the PDP and appointed National Treasurer Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as acting national chairman.
According to sources who were present at the meeting between Governor Bauchi and the Damagum faction of the NWC, the PDP Governors’ Forum chairman called for calm.
He stated, “Governor Bala Mohammed is worried about the situation. During his meeting with Damagum’s team on Friday, he welcomed them and called for calm. The governor urged them to restore the status quo to keep the NWC unified and allow the NEC to address the issues at its next meeting.
“To tackle these concerns, I understand that the governors have called an emergency meeting for Monday. Some stakeholders are discussing the possibility of appointing a new caretaker committee to manage the party’s affairs and organize an elective national convention in 2025 to usher in new NWC.
“These stakeholders believe that reconciliation efforts will not lead to the current NWC members collaborating for the party’s benefit. However, they are also cautious due to the ongoing litigation surrounding the Damagum and NWC situation. Therefore, the governors will convene to consider all these issues.”