The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was engulfed in a severe leadership crisis on Saturday after its National Working Committee (NWC) announced the suspension of several key officials, only for a rival faction to immediately declare those suspensions invalid and suspend the party’s acting chairman in return.
The internal conflict erupted when the faction loyal to the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, addressed journalists through the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba. They announced the suspension of the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); the National Organising Secretary, Umaru Bature; and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha.
Ologunagba stated the suspensions were for one month due to “anti-party activities” and actions “likely to cause disaffection.” He announced that the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, would act as National Secretary.
In a swift and dramatic counter-move, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, flanked by his supporters, held a separate press conference to reject his suspension. Speaking as the National Secretary, he announced the suspension of the very officials who had just suspended him.
Anyanwu’s faction suspended Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum for “incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgment.” They also suspended Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, Deputy National Vice Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, National Financial Secretary Daniel Woyengikoro, National Youth Leader Sulaiman Kadade, and Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo.
Anyanwu’s group then named the National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the new Acting National Chairman.
The dueling press conferences and mutual suspensions reveal a party split into two openly warring camps, each claiming legitimacy. The crisis, fueled by long-standing internal grievances and the influence of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s supporters, throws the party’s planned National Elective Convention in November into serious doubt and poses a significant threat to the stability of the main opposition party.
