N’West PDP Groups Back Damagum’s Suspension

The Coalition of North West State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Support Groups, has supported the suspension of PDP national chairman, Ambassador Illiya Damagum.

It also supported the recent decision of the Federal High Court to halt the party’s planned national convention, describing the ruling as a step towards restoring sanity and internal democracy in the opposition party.

Speaking during a press briefing in Kaduna, the president general of the coalition, Dr. Haruna Muhammad Ismail Gumel, said the judgment delivered last Friday has further exposed the deep-seated leadership crisis rocking the PDP, adding that it provides an opportunity for genuine reconciliation and restructuring.

Gumel noted that the coalition fully supports the resolution of the National Working Committee (NWC), which suspended the embattled national chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagun, alongside five other members of the party’s leadership for alleged misconduct and dereliction of duty.

According to him, the Damagun-led leadership deliberately created internal crises for reasons best known to him and his loyalists, leading to the breakdown of order within the PDP.

He said, “The judgment of the Federal High Court has once again proved that all is not well with our party and that urgent action is needed to save it. We commend members of the NWC who took the bold decision to suspend the National Chairman and five others who have failed to meet expectations.”

The coalition expressed its loyalty to the newly appointed acting national chairman, Mr. Muhammad Abdulkadir, who was until now the national vice chairman (North Central), urging him to use his experience to ensure justice, fairness, and reconciliation among aggrieved members.

Gumel also commended the national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; and the national organising secretary, Mr. Umar Muhammad Bature, for what he described as their “courageous role” in saving the party from public disgrace.

“The suspension of Mr. Damagun and five others is timely and commendable. Their exit has rekindled hope among our teeming members and supporters across the country that the PDP is on the path to recovery,” he said.

The coalition, in its recommendations, urged the acting national chairman to immediately constitute a reconciliation committee to address grievances, review congresses not conducted in some states, and convene an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to deliberate on pressing issues arising from the court judgment.

It further advised that preparations for the proposed Ibadan elective convention be suspended until all disputes are amicably resolved to avoid further litigations that could plunge the party into deeper crisis.

The coalition also called for the position of the National Chairman to be zoned to the North West, stressing that stakeholders from the region should be given the opportunity to select a competent and acceptable candidate to lead the party.

Gumel urged the disciplinary committee to summon the suspended chairman and other affected members to appear before it for appropriate action.

The press briefing, which was attended by several leaders of the coalition, also had the group’s secretary, Barrister Ibrahim Hassan Jibia, in attendance.