The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended notable officials, exacerbating the party’s internal discord.
The party has suspended Debo Ologunagba, the national publicity secretary, and Kamaldeen Ajibade, the national legal adviser due to accusations of misbehaviour, which include disloyalty and insubordination.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 10, by the PDP’s National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, the NWC announced that both Ologunagba and Ajibade would face a disciplinary committee headed by Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja. Their respective deputies have been ordered to assume acting roles immediately.
However, the tensions escalated when a faction within the party loyal to the suspended officials retaliated by suspending the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu. This faction accused Damagum and Anyanwu of anti-party activities, specifically for actions that allegedly undermined the PDP’s stance in a legal case involving 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ologunagba’s group denounced Damagum and Anyanwu for allegedly writing to the Court of Appeal against the party line. The faction responded by moving to suspend them, and Ologunagba used passages from the PDP Constitution to support the disciplinary actions.
The PDP’s internal division, which revolves over the party’s leadership and course, has left the NWC in shambles with no sign of an early settlement. The party’s capacity to operate successfully is in jeopardy as the two groups fight for control, especially as the nation approaches a crucial election time.
With both sides accusing one another of treachery and anti-party acts, the PDP may find it difficult to resolve this ongoing struggle for control within the organisation. The party is facing an uncertain future as it works through leadership differences, especially with the disciplinary committee scheduled to investigate.
