The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn yesterday as a faction of the party announced the appointment of Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the new Acting National Chairman.
This decision comes on the heels of the suspension of Ambassador Illiya Damagum, the erstwhile Acting National Chairman.
The faction, led by National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, made the announcement despite a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja restraining the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) from removing Damagum. The court’s decision seems to have been disregarded by the faction, which cited the PDP’s amended constitution of 2017 as the basis for Mohammed’s appointment.
In a statement, Ologunagba said: “Following the suspension of His Excellency, Ambassador Illiya Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved the appointment of Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the Acting National Chairman. The appointment takes immediate effect.
Earlier yesterday, the National Working Committee, led by Damagum, suspended National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade and National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba for alleged anti-party activities. However, in a swift counter-move, Ologunagba announced the suspension of Damagum and National Secretary Sam Anyanwu for similar reasons.
The PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting is scheduled to hold on Thursday, October 24, 2024. The faction has called on party members to remain focused during this critical period. However, the party’s internal conflicts may cast a shadow on its ability to present a united front ahead of the 2027 elections.