PDP members split over Damagum’s replacement

Ahead of the National Executive Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party slated for October 24, two chieftains of the party have disagreed over the zone that should produce a replacement for the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.

Since 2023, the PDP has been experiencing internal turmoil with some members criticising Damagum for not taking effective measures to reform the party.

The PDP members, especially those from North Central therefore demanded Damagum’s replacement, and insisted that it must come from their region.

They said Section 47(6) of the party’s constitution posited that if a vacancy arises in any party office, the Executive Committee must appoint someone from the same area or zone as the departing officer to complete their term.

But speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the 2023 PDP governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Segun Showunmi disagreed with former National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, regarding the zone that should produce Damagum’s replacement.

While Ologbondiyan said the replacement should come from the North Central, Showunmi insisted the seat was not exclusively created for the zone.

“What the North Central is agitating for is for Damagum to leave that post and return to his position as Deputy National Chairman. The zone will then nominate a suitable person to replace him and complete the tenure,” Ologbondiyan stated.

“We are demanding that North Central be given its rightful place in the National Working Committee, which is the position of National Chairman of the party,” he added.

Showunmi, however, said, “What led to the removal of the last Chairman? Was it not the North Central issues at the heart of this problem? The party will lose if they continue this way.

 “I am from the South, and I have the best ideas to get this party moving right now. We need to bring young people into this party. By even putting myself forward for this, I am taking a big risk with my money and time. So, it is not about the zone; it is about the PDP, and I am saying all this because we cannot have a one-party state.”