*Expulsion Looms For Suspended Persons -Anyanwu Hints
Is the former largest political party in Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the throes of death?
That is the question on the lips of many as existential threats continue to rock the ranks of the once very powerful party which produced Nigeria’s successive Presidents from the dawn of the Fourth Republic in 1999 till 2015 when the currently ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) swept it off power.
The latest in the different episodes of crises besetting the party occurred today, 1 November, when the Samuel Anyanwu faction of the party, in an apparent tit for tat, announced the suspension of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and five other members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Earlier, the NWC under Damagum had suspended Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN, and two other members.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of the factional NWC, Anyanwu announced the appointment of the party’s National Vice Chairman (North-Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as Acting National Chairman.
“Unfortunately, some people may say that the National Secretary, National Organising Secretary who has the responsibility of monitoring everything and the National Legal Adviser, who is responsible for all legal issues, were purportedly suspended.
“On this note, we decided to suspend the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, for incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgment.
“He has been suspended for one month and should face the Disciplinary Committee.
“Secondly, we also suspended the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for issuing statements without the party’s approval, and the Deputy National Vice Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, has also been suspended.
“The National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro, who has been involved in alleged financial misconduct, has also been suspended.
“The National Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade, and the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, have also been suspended for 30 days. All of them will be sent to the Disciplinary Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled.
“Therefore, we are announcing the National Vice Chairman (North-Central) to serve as the Acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman,” Anyanwu said.
