…group appeals Abuja court judgment
A peace moves on Wednesday by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) to resolve the party’s crisis has been rejected by the camp of the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, describing it as “a nullity.”
Anyanwu and the acting national chairman of his camp, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, addressed a news conference hours after the BoT met in Abuja and set up a six-member reconciliation committee to resolve the dispute between the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) and the camp of the NWC led by the secretary.
For instance, Anyanwu said as a member of the BoT, he was not invited to the meeting.
“What took place today was a meeting of friends and associates.
“Any BoT meeting without my presence is a nullity. The letter of the PDP is with me. Since I was not there and I was not invited, what took place was not a BoT meeting”, he stated.
On the convention, the group said it remained cancelled in line with the judgment of the Abuja High Court, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also been notified not to honour the convention.
Speaking on the appeal, the factional acting chairman, Abdulrahman, said, “We have filed an appeal to seek further clarification of the judgment.
“The PDP hereby cancels the convention, pending the determination of the appeal.
Any continuation of plans for the convention is in violation of the judicial process.
“We have equally notified INEC to suspend the convention in compliance with the judgment of the Abuja federal high court.”
When reminded that an Oyo State High Court also delivered a ruling on Tuesday, giving the PDP the go-ahead to hold the convention, Abdulrahman replied that a ruling stemming from an ex parte motion was no higher than the judgment of the Abuja court.
“In any case, before the ex parte order was given, we had already filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal in Abuja. That order cannot be higher than judgment”, he added.
The BoT’s move was the latest effort to get the two warring groups in the NWC to sheathe their swords by working together as a united PDP.
The BoT, after the emergency meeting held in Abuja, named Ambassador Hassan Adamu (North-East) to head the reconciliation committee, which has a representative from each of the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Other members are Mike Oghiadomhe (South-South), who doubles as the Secretary of the committee; Chief Ugochukwu Okeke (South-East); Senator Zaynab Kure (North-Central); Prince Onyinlola Olagunsoye (South-West); and Dr Lubna Mohammed Gusau (North-West).
Tribune Online recalls that the NWC led by the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, had on Saturday, last week, suspended the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; the National Organising Secretary, Honourable Umar Bature; the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN; and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha, for alleged anti-party activities.
The officers were alleged to be working with other interests to frustrate the convention of the party. The suspension followed last Friday’s judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court, which halted the Ibadan convention.
Anyanwu, in turn, led the suspended members of the NWC to retaliate by Damagum; the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; the Deputy National Secretary, Setongi Koshoedo; the National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyiendikoro; and the National Youth Leader, Mohammed Kadede.
The Anyanwu group went ahead to appoint Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman as the acting national chairman. On Monday, the camp, in company with chanting supporters, forcibly took control of the Wadada Plaza National Secretariat of the PDP in Abuja, where Abdulrahman declared that he had assumed duties in his new designation.
While this was on, an Oyo State High Court on Tuesday made a ruling that the party has the constitutional right to conduct its internal affairs, adding that the party should go ahead to hold its scheduled convention.
But the BoT, after Wednesday’s meeting chaired by Senator Adulphus Wabara, appointed the reconciliation committee to see to the resolution of the differences between the two parties, stressing the point that the PDP would go ahead with the Ibadan convention.
The organ, among other resolutions, said while it would not take sides with any of the parties, reaffirmed that the PDP remained united under the Damagum-led NWC and applauded the ruling of the Oyo state High Court.
The communique reads in part, “BoT reaffirms that the PDP remains a united, formidable and focused political party under the leadership of the Amb. Iliya Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC).
“The BoT solidly stands with and commends the Amb. Iliya Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC), the PDP Governors Forum, the National Convention Organising Committee and other critical Organs of the Party for their collective roles in stabilising our Party, especially as we progress towards the conduct of the Elective National Convention scheduled to hold on the 15th and 16th of November 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital.
“The BoT welcomes the ruling of the Oyo State High Court, presided over by Justice A L Akintola which affirmed the Constitutional right and liberty of our Party to manage its internal affairs including holding our 2025 Elective National Convention as scheduled. This landmark ruling is a victory for Democracy, Rule of Law and political development in our country.
“The BoT, however, expresses worry over the recent developments within our ranks that have caused understandable concerns. The tensions, misunderstandings, and regrettable incidents that have played out in public including the invasion of our National Secretariat are not reflective of the ideals and character of the PDP.
“As the conscience of the party, the BoT cannot and will not take sides but remain focused on safeguarding the integrity of the PDP and ensuring dialogue over discord. The decision for reconciliation is not as a sign of weakness but as a demonstration of maturity and responsibility.
“Against this backdrop, the BoT sets up a high-powered committee to immediately reconcile all conflicting sides and restore unity of purpose in our party as we head to the Elective National Convention in Ibadan.”
Credit: Nigerian Tribune