Plot to retain Damagum as National Chairman gains traction
A new power struggle is brewing within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a faction seeks to not only keep acting national chairman Iliya Damagum in his position for the remainder of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu’s tenure but also to secure his election as the party’s substantive chairman during the upcoming 2025 national convention.
While the party initially planned to hold a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on November 28, a recent PDP Governors Forum gathering in Bauchi has suggested postponing the NEC meeting until February 2025.
This delay aims to give the party time to address its internal disagreements.
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Sources indicate that this postponement is viewed as a significant win for supporters of Damagum’s extended leadership, potentially allowing him to serve beyond Ayu’s term.
Within the party, two factions have emerged: one backing Damagum’s continued leadership, comprising several governors and key stakeholders, while the other insists on electing a “true party man” who will strictly adhere to the party’s constitution.
Damagum, from the North-East, was initially elected as deputy national chairman (North) but stepped into the role of acting national chairman after Ayu’s removal.
According to the PDP’s constitution, Ayu’s replacement should come from his geopolitical zone, but the ongoing delays in convening the NEC have complicated this process.
Efforts to replace Damagum with a permanent leader from the North-Central region have stalled, particularly as further delays in the NEC meeting continue to occur.
The last scheduled NEC meeting, originally set for April 18, had already faced multiple postponements, including rescheduling to October 24 and November 28, and now has been delayed yet again due to the Governors’ Forum’s influence.
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