*NWC Appoints Amb. Damagum acting national chairman
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan & IBRAHIM ADAMU, Kaduna
What has been a raging battle between the Governor Nyesom Wike -led G-5 yesterday climaxed to the advantage of the aggrieved governors of the main opposition, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as the National Working Committee (NWC) announced the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Umar Ililya Damagum as the acting National Chairman
This followed a prolonged battle of superiority between the G-5 and the national chairman of the party, following the outcome of the party’s presidential primary, which saw former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar emerge as its presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections, which was won by the ruling party’s Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following infighting from the main oposition.
According to a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP NWC at an emergency yesterday, March 28, 2023 acknowledging the Order of a Benue State High Court, dated March 27, 2023 with regards to its Chairmanship position
” After a careful consideration of the Court Order and in line with Section 45 (2) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), the NWC resolved that the Deputy National Chairman (North) His Excellency, Amb. Umar Ililya Damagum assumes the National Chairmanship of our Party in acting capacity with effect from today, Tuesday, March 28, 2023″, it said.
The statement added, ” the NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members and supporters of our great Party to remain calm and united at this critical time”.
The court order came barely a day after Ayu was said to have been suspended under controversial circumstances from his home state, Benue, where Governor Samuel Ortom, a staunch Wike ally and a member of the G-5 holds sway.
The emergence and open anti party activities of the G-5, many believe, may have cost PDP a chance of reclaiming the presidency, lost in 2015 to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is even as many were of the opinion that the APC in its eight-year rule, performed abysmally, with the economy suffering down turn, alongside pockets of insecurity prevalent in several parts of the country.
The G-5 were aggrieved that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar emerged PDP presidential candidate, arguing that power ought to have returned to the South, after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in office.
The alleged anti party activities, may have cost Governor Ortom and his Abia counterpart, Senator Okezie Ikpeazu their senatorial ambitions, with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, capitalisimg on it to coast to victory for a second term.
