The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Acting National Secretary, Amb. Iliya Damagum, is set to become the first major casualty of the face-off between the party’s governors and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike,
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Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, revealed after a meeting with members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) late on September 17, 2024, that it was resolved that Damagum should be removed as the Acting National Chairman. The NWC delegation met with Mohammed in Bauchi.
Damagum’s position as Acting National Chairman had always been shaky, as he is occupying a position zoned to the North-Central. Prof Iyorchia Ayu, from Benue State in the North-Central, became the National Chairman after the position was ceded to the zone, but Damagum, from Kebbi State in the North-East, was named Acting National Chairman after Ayu was forced out in 2023.
The PDP North-Central Caucus has been agitating that Damagum should step down for the zone to produce a substantive national chairman that will complete Ayu’s tenure.
However, the party’s leadership has been silent on the matter until Wike, Damagum’s major backer, threatened to put fire in the states of PDP governors for supporting their Rivers State colleague, Sim Fubara.
Damagum had been working with Wike to strip Fubara of any influence in the Rivers PDP, leading to speculations that the governor would leave the party.
Damagum handed Wike control of the PDP structure in Rivers after approving the state congress held on August 31, 2024, where the minister’s loyalists took all the positions. Fubara and his camp boycotted the congress.
Wike was summoned by the PDP Disciplinary Committee after his outburst against the governors, who had responded to the threat by openly backing Fubara, insisting that, as the governor, he should be recognized as the party’s leader in his state.
However, as the governors and Wike engage in a battle of supremacy, indications have emerged that Damagum is set to become the major casualty in the fight between the two elephants.
The agitation of the PDP North-Central Caucus to be allowed to produce the party’s national chairman, in line with the subsisting zoning arrangement, was revisited at the meeting between Mohammed and members of the NWC.
Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, who addressed journalists after the meeting, disclosed that it has been agreed that Damagum should go. According to Mohammed, it is a ‘constitutional aberration’ or Damagum to continue in office.
The meeting resolved that the North-Central would be given the opportunity to complete Ayu’s tenure.
The Bauchi governor said, “My brother from the North-East (Damagun ) is acting as the National Chairman and it is a constitutional aberration because according to our Constitution, any vacancy that exists of leadership position should return where it is created. We know the North-Central has been craving for it and we have discussed the issue and would work with that as the Chairman, the National Working Committee and the party to ensure that the North-Central is given the opportunity to assume that responsibility.
“The North-East also benefited from such constitutional arrangements after the resignation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. Former Governor Ahmadu Muazu became the National Chairman of the PDP. It is not something that is in contention by the grace of God.”
Interestingly, the PDP NWC delegation which met with Mohammed in Bauchi was led by the National Legal Advisor of the party, Kamaldeen Ajibade Adeyemi, SAN, and not Damagum, who ought to lead the team in his capacity as acting national chairman. The development could signal a factionalization of the body.
However, Mohammed further disclosed that the NWC delegation has supported the decision of the PDP Governors’ Forum to back Rivers Governor, Fubara, as the leader of the PDP in the state.
Until now, the NWC, led by Damagum, had been on Wike’s side.
Mohammed added, “The decision is in order and that is how it is supposed to be. Governor Fubara is the leader of the party in the state. It is along this line that we collectively agreed for the rule of law, and the delegation gave their firm commitment and support for the position of the PDP Governors Forum in Rivers State.”
He also revealed that the governors are working at finding an amicable resolution of the Rivers crisis.
“We all know the relationship between the FCT minister (Wike) and the current governor of Rivers State which is that of the mentor and the mentee. We are working behind the scenes to ensure they come together to work together in a manner that PDP is known for.
“Certainly, it is not something we can dictate here but we have summoned the courage and the will to ensure that the correct thing is done.”
A source at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, who did not wish to be named, informed THE WHISTLER that it is expected that, in the coming days, the party will commence the process for Damagum’s removal as acting national chairman, and election of a substantive National Chairman, from the North-Central.
“It is expected that a National Executive Council meeting will be convened to address this issue,” the source added.
The NEC meeting earlier scheduled for September 26 was postponed. Party sources insinuated that the meeting was called off by Damagum as a ploy to stop the party’s highest decision-making body from overturning his decision to recognize the Rivers congress, which handed Wike the PDP structure in the state.