Wike emerges victorious as PDP govs urge Damagum’s rival to step down
Former Rivers State Governor and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike continues to assert his influence within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governors elected on the party’s platform have nullified the suspension of acting National Chairman Iliya Damagum.
Wike is reportedly making significant efforts to support National Chairman Umar Damagum in retaining his position.
The governors also nullified the suspensions of National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN.
Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed, made the announcement to journalists on Tuesday morning.
Speaking before departing for Ondo for a “crucial assignment,” Bala, accompanied by Damagum and other PDP stakeholders, stated that the status quo remains unchanged for now.
Yayari Mohammed was named as Damagum’s replacement during the division in the National Working Committee (NWC), which resulted in suspensions on both sides.
In a statement released on Sunday, Mohammed said the NWC appointed him to “rekindle the hope and aspirations” of party members.
He said the PDP has not been a virile opposition due to “conflict of interests — personal or political” by some leaders in the NWC.
He said these personal interests have been elevated above the party’s agenda and continues to affect its ability to perform effectively at the national level.
“This state of affairs continues to affect the performance and viability of our Party to perform its role as expected as a platform which Nigerians have come to admire and look up to in view of the robust Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and the monumental achievements of the Party in the sixteen years in government, which period is referred to with nostalgia as the golden years of governance in Nigeria.”
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, desirous of revamping the Party in line with the vision of its founding fathers, on Thursday, October 10, 2024 appointed me as the Acting National Chairman to lead the charge to rekindle the hope and aspiration of our teeming members especially the youths, critical stakeholders and generality of Nigerians who wish to see a political Party that is ready and willing to play the role of effective opposition in the quest to develop our democracy and seek for responsible and responsive government in our country.
“Only this will guarantee and engender loyalty and commitment of our teeming members,” he said.
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