Umar Damagum, the current acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will serve in that role until the next National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which will be held after today, Thursday, April 18, 2024.
This was part of the resolution adopted during the PDP caucus meeting on Wednesday night.
Debo Ologunagba, a PDP spokesman, stated that the caucus resolved that all reconciliation committees be reformed to tackle concerns hurting the party’s unity.
When asked what the caucus addressed on the party’s chairmanship position, he stated that it is an issue that the party’s NEC would address, but that the organ resolved that Damagum stay as chairman until the next NEC meeting after today.
The meeting was attended by the former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; and the 2023 presidential flag bearer of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar.
Damagum is suspected to be an ally of Wike, who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The caucus also directed that the party should revisit the Rivers State Caretaker Committee List, and find a political solution to the crisis in the state.
The caucus meeting held less than 24 hours to theNEC meeting of the party, which has been scheduled for today (April 18, 2024) to discus issues regarding the leadership of the party and also to ractify decisions by various organs of the party.
The PDP is facing a leadership crisis, with members urging the resignation of the Damagum-led NEC. Meetings like the NEC and the party’s Board of Trustees have been arranged to address these issues.
Meanwhile, Senator Iyorcha Ayu has withdrew his appeal, which sought to challenge his removal as the party’s national chairman. His move is also believed to be connected with the party’s upcoming National Executive Meeting.
Ayu was suspended by the executive committee of the PDP in Igyorov ward in the Gboko Local Government Area of Kogi State in 2023 over alleged anti-party activities but he had approached the court to challenge his removal.
However, a Federal High Court in June last year affirmed the decision of the party to sack Senator Ayu, a judgement that led to an appeal, which he has now withdrawn.