Politics
Wike’s Loyalists in PDP Suspend Acting Chairman Damagum, Spokesman Ologunagba, Others
Cyril Ogar
The Peoples Democratic Party has plunged deeper into crisis as fresh divisions emerged within its leadership, with a faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announcing the suspension of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and five other members of the National Working Committee.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of the factional NWC, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, announced the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the Acting National Chairman.
He stated, “First of all, we want to commend the judiciary over the judgment of yesterday, which is a victory for the entire PDP members all over. Nobody can claim victory over the judgment of the court. It is a judgment against impunity, against illegality. We promote unity, peace, and cohesion in the party.
“Having said that, the party did not overlook the activities of some members of the NWC who have already decided to cause disaffection in the party, which has made most of our leaders and governors leave the party in droves. I would say that this is the time to arrest such a situation and call it to order.
“On this note, after the emergency meeting, we decided, as a party, to suspend Ambassador Damagum, the National Chairman of the party, for incompetence, misappropriation of party funds, and flagrant disobedience of court judgments. We decided that we should suspend him for one month, and we will send him to the Disciplinary Committee for him to be able to answer questions.
“Secondly, we have overwhelming evidence against the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba. We have seen the frequent press releases by the National Publicity Secretary which was confirmed that even at a point, the then National Vice Chairman suspended him for appearing or defending the party because of the unapproved frequent press releases. For us to have sanity in the party, we have suspended him.”
Anyanwu also announced the suspension of the National Deputy Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, accusing him of failing to properly advise Damagum against engaging in anti-party activities and reckless behavior.
He continued, “On that note, he is also suspended for 30 days. Now, we talk about the National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro. We have discovered that in the last few days and months, there have been congresses and sales of forms meant for our congresses, which were bought and paid into two different accounts controlled by the National Financial Secretary. So, on this note, he has been suspended, and we are sending him to the Disciplinary Committee. We are also going to involve the financial agencies to look into those activities.
“Again, the Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade, PDP Youth all over, if you watched yesterday, the youth leaders all over the country met and said that they don’t want Mohammed Kandede to be their youth leader again because he has never activated the youth wing of our party, and that wing has been abandoned. For that reason, he has also been suspended for one month.
“Finally, the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo who is supposed to be my deputy, is also suspended for one month. He resumed the office of the National Secretary illegally, signed all kinds of letters, especially to some states, where he has caused disaffection among our party members in those states. For that reason, he has also been suspended for 30 days.
“All of them are sent to the Disciplinary Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled from the party. The judgment of yesterday confirmed the reason why this suspension should be effective. In their place, especially the National Chairman, we are asking the National Vice Chairman (North-Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman to act as National Chairman. In the place of the National Publicity Secretary, we are going to ask the Director of Publicity of our party, Chinwen Nnorom, to take over all the activities of the party in terms of information.”
According to Anyanwu, ten members of the NWC were in attendance.
Earlier, the NWC under Damagum’s leadership announced the suspension of Senator Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and two other members.
Despite the scheduled National Elective Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, internal strife continues to grip the party.
Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, remain dissatisfied with the leadership of the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.
Their grievances revolve around unresolved disputes concerning the South-South zonal leadership and control of party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau States. In addition, disagreements over the micro-zoning arrangement ahead of the convention have further deepened divisions within the PDP.
These ongoing conflicts eventually escalated into a legal confrontation aimed at halting the planned convention. On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim injunction restraining the PDP from proceeding with the convention until further notice.
In case number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, the court ruled that the PDP must suspend its convention pending full compliance with its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act of 2022.
The case was filed by three aggrieved PDP members Austin Nwachukwu, the Imo State PDP Chairman; Amah Abraham Nnanna, the Abia State PDP Chairman; and Turnah Alabh George, the PDP Secretary for the South-South zone.
They argued that the planned convention violated both the Electoral Act and the party’s internal regulations, citing the PDP’s failure to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before issuing the convention notice.
Justice Omotosho upheld their arguments, ruling that the PDP had indeed breached its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and INEC’s guidelines by neglecting to conduct proper state congresses and failing to provide the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC.
Consequently, the court ordered the suspension of the planned convention until all internal irregularities are corrected in accordance with the law.
News
Okowa Left Ndokwa in Darkness, Ochei Will Defeat Him – Hon. Gift Okwuolise, Ph.D., Campaign Director-General
The Director-General of the Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei Campaign Council, Hon. Gift Okwuolise, Ph.D., has declared that former Governor and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa left the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency and much of Delta North in darkness and neglect despite holding power for 12 years. He expressed confidence that Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei will defeat Okowa in the 2027 senatorial election.
In a strongly worded statement, Hon. Okwuolise, who was the 2023 Labour Party House of Representatives candidate, said Okowa’s combined tenure as Senator representing Delta North and Governor of Delta State produced little meaningful change for the people who bore the burden of his political rise. He described the unfulfilled Okpai Independent Power Plant step-down project as the starkest symbol of that failure.
According to him, a major national power facility located on Ndokwa soil has, for nearly two decades, generated electricity that lights up distant states and the Federal Capital Territory, while host communities and the federal constituency remain without the step-down facility that would bring them reliable electricity.
“As Governor for eight years, Okowa had every opportunity to prioritise the Okpai step-down project and end the darkness. He never did,” Hon. Okwuolise stated. “That is not oversight; it is abandonment of the people who expected and deserved better.”
Beyond electricity, Hon. Okwuolise pointed to what he described as broader governance failures. He said insecurity continues to threaten farmers and rural communities, critical access roads remain in poor condition, young people lack meaningful economic opportunities, and federal presence in infrastructure and development has remained limited.
According to him, political calculations and the preservation of personal and family interests replaced the delivery of tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens across Delta North.
Hon. Okwuolise contrasted this record with the new direction being pursued by Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
He noted that Ochei has advanced a practical agenda focused on securing farms, fixing roads, pursuing the Okpai step-down project and wider electricity access, developing agro-industrial clusters, creating jobs, attracting private investment, and promoting a politics of competence rather than patronage.
The Campaign Director-General added that Ochei’s grassroots consultations across Aniocha, Oshimili and Ndokwa communities, alongside what he described as growing support and defections, show that the people are ready to reject the old order.
“His victory over Okowa is not a hope; it is a certainty. Delta North has seen twelve years of the same politics and is prepared for the New Direction,” he said.
Hon. Okwuolise, Ph.D., called on voters across Delta North, particularly in the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, to vote for the Nigeria Democratic Congress at all levels, beginning with the presidential election.
He urged voters to support the NDC presidential candidate, H.E. Mr. Peter Obi, CON; Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei for the Senate; Dr. Ugochukwu Nwokolo (Overdo), candidate for the House of Representatives, and all NDC candidates contesting for seats in the Delta State House of Assembly.
“The time has come to end the darkness and the myth,” Hon. Okwuolise concluded. “Vote NDC from the Presidency downward. Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei and the NDC offer the leadership that will work for the people, not for itself.”
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