PDP In Fresh Crisis Ahead of Ibadan National Convention

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently facing another round of internal conflict as its national leaders clash over the dissolution of the Akwa Ibom State executive committee, weeks before the party’s national convention billed for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The division stems from a decision by the national working committee (NWC), which the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, said approved the dissolution and replaced the structure with a caretaker committee.

But national secretary Samuel Anyanwu voided the move, insisting there was no formal sitting of the NWC to ratify the decision. 

He accused the national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, of misleading members of the party and the public with what he described as a fabricated resolution.

Ologunagba, however, maintained that the caretaker committee was validly constituted to take over from the state executive loyal to Governor Umo Eno, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Anyanwu countered that any NWC meeting summoned without his notice was “illegal, null and void,” stressing that the constitution places on him the duty of recording minutes. 

In a letter dated October 1, he described the dissolution as “purported” and declared that the Akwa Ibom executive “stands un-dissolved.”

His position reflects the wider influence of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who has been locked in a running battle with Damagum’s camp. But Ologunagba dismissed the secretary’s claim, saying: “There was indeed a meeting of the NWC summoned by the national chairman in line with the constitution. It was attended by 16 of 19 members… Decisions were taken, including the dissolution of the Akwa Ibom executives, and I was directed to communicate same.”

Wike has also warned in recent interviews that the Ibadan convention may not hold unless the disputes tearing the party apart are resolved.