The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Friday with the announcement of a new acting National Chairman by the party’s integrity faction. In a bold move, the faction named Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the new acting National Chairman, marking a significant shift in the party’s leadership.
This development follows a series of suspensions by opposing factions within the party. Earlier on Friday, the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, suspended Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN (National Legal Adviser) and Debo Ologunagba (National Publicity Secretary) over allegations of anti-party activities.
Shortly after this, Ologunagba, speaking for the integrity faction, announced that Damagum and Sam Anyanwu (National Secretary) had also been suspended by their faction for similar reasons. In his statement, Ologunagba revealed the immediate appointment of Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the new acting National Chairman, asserting that the decision adhered to the party’s 2017 amended constitution.
The statement read: “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, which takes immediate effect, is pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).”
The faction further urged all PDP members, leaders, and stakeholders to “remain focused” as the NWC begins preparations for the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for October 24, 2024.
As the internal feud intensifies, the PDP continues to grapple with internal divisions, and the path toward resolution remains unclear.
