PDP Suspends Acting National Chairman Illiya Damagum

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended its acting National Chairman, Mr Illiya Damagum, for an alleged anti-party activity.

A statement signed by the party spokesman, Mr Debo Ologunagba, disclosed that the National Secretary of the PDP, Mr Samuel Anyanwu, was also suspended by the NWC after its meeting on Thursday.

It was explained that the party chieftains were asked to step down from their positions after considering a series of complaints raised against them, 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 (APC).

“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 Illiya Damagum and Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Chairman and National Secretary of the party respectively and referred them to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.

“In the meantime, the two officials are suspended from all meetings, activities and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of an investigation by the National Disciplinary Committee,” the statement said.