The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, which relates to issues in Rivers State and the conflict between the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has factionalised the party’s National Working Committee, Saturday PUNCH can confirm.

Since taking over after Senator Iyorchia Ayu was removed by a court, the party’s factional acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, had faced mounting criticism within the party, leading to calls for his resignation.

The crisis escalated when Damagum and other NWC members, in support of Wike, secured approval for controversial PDP Congresses in Rivers State and postponed the National Executive Committee meeting from September 26 to October 24.

The lingering conflict between Wike and the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, also intensified on August 24 as the PDP governors publicly declared their supports for their Rivers counterpart and urged a review of the state congresses.

In response, Wike August 31 threatened to disrupt activities in the governors’ states if they continued to interfere in Rivers State matters, but the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by the Bauchi State governor labelled Wike’s threats as irresponsible on September 3.

Meanwhile, Fubara oversaw local government elections on October 5, resulting in a setback for Wike’s camp, as 22 of the 23 newly elected chairmen were from the Action Peoples Party.

But in a surprised move, the NWC in a statement by the party’s National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom on Friday announced the suspension of its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN).

The PUNCH reported exclusively on September 3 that Ologunagba and Ajibade (SAN) had been heading the NWC group that consistently opposes Damagum’s efforts to hand over control of the PDP to Wike, especially regarding issues in Rivers State.

The statement read in part, “The National Working Committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party arising from its 593rd Meeting today, Thurday, October 10, 2024, has directed the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, to step aside, respectively.

“As a result, the NWC constituted a committee to be chaired by the Deputy National Chairman (South), H.E. Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the issues raised against the officers in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Party.”

“Following the NWC’s Decision, it directed their respective deputies (DNPS and DNLA) to assume office in acting capacity with effect from Friday, October 11, 2014, pending the conclusion of investigation by the Committee. The officers are: “Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga, Esq, Acting National Publicity Secretary and Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha, Acting National Legal Adviser”.

Moments later, a statement signed by Ologunagba on Friday revealed that the NWC had suspended Damagum and National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, for alleged disloyalty to the PDP.

The Ologunagba faction of the NWC also appointed National Treasurer Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as acting National Chairman.

The statement read in part “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has extensively considered the series of complaints raised against the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum and National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu particularly with regard to the letter addressed by them to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No:CA/PH/307/2024 against the Party’s position in the case involving the 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who vacated their seats upon decamping from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress.

“The NWC condemned this anti-party activity of the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary which is in gross violation of the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) and their Oath of Office.

“Consequently, the NWC, pursuant to Sections 57, 58 and 59 of the PDP Constitution, has suspended Amb. Illiya Damagum and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party respectively and referred them to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.

“Following the suspension of His Excellency, Amb. Illiya Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of our great Party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, the National Working Committee has approved the appointment of Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the Acting National Chairman.”

Saturday PUNCH learnt that Wike directed his supporters in the NWC led by Damagum to suspend Ologunagba and Ajibade (SAN) for opposing his interests in Rivers State and obstructing his control of the party structure at national.

A senior NWC member from the Mohammed’s faction, speaking anonymously, stated that Ologunagba and Ajibade (SAN) were suspended not only for the Rivers issue but also for their consistent criticism of Damagum’s management of party funds.

The source stated, “The NWC has been divided for a while. The division was largely caused by Wike and Fubara’s conflict over Rivers structure. But the division became known to the public on Thursday after the rancorous NWC meeting.”

In a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the acting National Publicity Secretary of the Damagum faction, also confirmed that the suspension of Ajibade and Ologunagba is linked to the Rivers crisis.

Abdullahi clarified that the Damagum-led NWC is following Wike’s agenda and denied allegations that they were financially incentivised to suspend those individuals.

Abdullahi, reading a statement signed by Anyanwu, explained that Ajibade and Ologunba were suspended due to allegations of abuse of office, insubordination, and failure to follow the directives of the NWC.

In response to the suspensions from both factions, the PDP Board of Trustees urged the factional members of the National Working Committee to restore the previous state of affairs.

PDP BoT Chairman Sen. Adolphus Wabara, who stated this in a statement on Friday, urged the factional NWC to sheath their swords and de-escalate the tension.

Wabara asserted that the Board of Trustees is fully dedicated to fostering peace, unity, and progress within the PDP.