Amid calls for his resignation and ahead of the 98th National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has passed a vote of confidence in the party’s acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.
At a meeting presided over by ex-Deputy Gov. Taofeek Arapaja, the Deputy National Chairman of the party (South), the NWC passed a vote of confidence in the Chairman and his prospects.
The National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said in a statement e-mailed to Persecondnews on Wednesday that the PDP NWC applauded the dedication and endeavours of the Acting National Chairman in “stabilizing and revitalizing” the PDP as Nigeria’s primary opposition party.
The statement reads: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has passed a Vote of Confidence on the Party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum.
“The decision of the NWC, which came at the end of its 584th meeting at the Party’s National Secretariat on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, commends the efforts and commitment of the Acting National Chairman to stabilize and reposition the PDP as the main opposition party in Nigeria.
“The Deputy National Chairman (South), Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, presided over the motion for a vote of confidence on the Acting National Chairman, which was moved by the National Vice Chairman (South East), Chief Ali Odefa, and seconded by the National Treasurer, Hon. Yayari Mohammed.”
Persecondnews recalls that 60 PDP federal lawmakers, under the aegis of the opposition lawmakers coalition, have threatened to quit the party if the alleged doctored list of local government caretaker committees of the party in Rivers and 10 other states, which was filled with members and loyalists of the All Progressive Congress, APC, is not changed.
This is as the lawmakers accused the PDP chairman of anti-party activities, alleging that he has plans to hand over the party PDP to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The lawmakers are also demanding the resignation of the acting chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagun, to pave the way for the North Central person to emerge as acting chairman of the party pending the conduct of the convention as required by the party’s constitution.
The opposition lawmakers stated that Damagun will fail in his plot to sell PDP to the highest bidder as his abdication of the responsibilities of the office of chairman of the largest opposition in the country, coupled with the tampering of the caretaker committee lists, Rivers and other 10 states, has exposed the plot and it will fail.
They listed their demands as follows: “Immediate resignation of Umar Iliya Damagun as Ag. National Chairman of the PDP for anti-party activities, allow North Central to produce the acting chairman as clearly stated in the PDP constitution, or watch us reconsider our membership in the party in the months ahead if the right thing is not done.
“Or removal of Umar Iliya Damagun by the NEC of the Party with further sanctions against him for his anti-party activities.
“That the NEC of the Party should ensure that the list of party caretaker committees in Rivers State and all other 10 states tampered by Damagun and his APC friends is reversed and announced as originally agreed, that is, by extension of the tenures of the outgoing leadership.
“That the move to use serving APC members in Rivers State and 10 other states to lead our party caretaker at state, lga, and ward level is the highest act of political provocation and impunity that we are going to fight with everything in us.
“PDP can’t be handed over to the APC. APC officers cannot emerge as party officials in rivers or any of the 10 states with the alleged imposition of APC interest.”
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