Daniel Otera
The leadership crisis tearing through the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) exploded on Saturday as two rival power blocs slammed suspensions on each other, underscoring the party’s escalating internal war.
In a dramatic twist, the National Working Committee (NWC) first announced the suspension of four top officials — including National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu — over alleged anti-party activities. The decision, taken at the NWC’s 608th meeting in Abuja, also affected National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and Deputy National Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha.
The officials were barred from office for one month and referred to the Disciplinary Committee. PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba said their actions breached the party’s constitution, though he offered no immediate details.
The move came barely 24 hours after a Federal High Court halted the PDP’s planned national convention slated for November 15 — raising eyebrows about timing and internal manoeuvres, particularly as the suspended officers include the party’s top legal hands.
Under the PDP Constitution, Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo is to act in Anyanwu’s place, while the National Director of Legal Services will oversee the legal department.
Within hours, however, a faction loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike hit back. Speaking at a briefing in Abuja, suspended National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu rejecting his suspension announced that the group had suspended National Chairman Umar Damagum and five other NWC members.
Declaring North-Central Vice Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting Chairman, Anyanwu accused Damagum of incompetence, financial misconduct and disobeying court orders.
Those suspended by the Wike-aligned group included:
Umar Damagum — Acting National Chairman
Debo Ologunagba — National Publicity Secretary
Taofeek Arapaja — Deputy National Chairman (South)
Daniel Woyengikoro — National Financial Secretary
Sulaiman Kadade — National Youth Leader
Setonji Koshoedo — Deputy National Secretary
They were also handed 30-day suspensions and directed to appear before a disciplinary panel.
Saturday’s tit-for-tat suspensions mark one of the most chaotic days in the PDP’s recent history, laying bare the fierce power struggle within a party already battling legal headwinds and factional rivalry ahead of its halted national convention.
Neither faction has backed down, and key figures are yet to publicly respond leaving the PDP’s hierarchy in disarray and its future direction uncertain.
As things stand, the PDP now has two “national chairmen” and parallel disciplinary moves, signaling a deeper battle for control of the opposition party.
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