The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party has expressed concern over the continued leadership roles of the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.
Concerns have been voiced by multiple party members regarding the tenure of Damagum and Anyanwu in their current roles. Damagum, who previously held the position of PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), took over as acting National Chairman after a court suspended the former chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in March of the previous year.
Anyanwu, meanwhile, retained his post as National Secretary despite his selection as the PDP candidate for the Imo State 2023 gubernatorial election. This situation has led to difficulties in nominating a replacement from the South zone.
Despite these challenges, both the PDP’s National Working Committee and National Caucus have recently affirmed their support for Damagum’s leadership.
During a forum meeting at the PDP Headquarters in Abuja, the PDP BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, articulated the pressing issues facing the party. “Nigerians are currently passing through a perilous time and their earnest expectation is for us as a Party to put our house in order and effectively lead the charge to rescue our nation from the stranglehold of the All Progressives Congress,” he explained.
Wabara elaborated on the leadership issues, recalling the circumstances that led to the ousting of Ayu and noting the prolonged tenure of the acting chairman, which contradicts the party’s usual practices.
“I must address a matter that weighs heavily on our collective conscience, the leadership of the party as it stands,” he stated, addressing the contentious position of National Secretary that has caused significant internal conflict and hindered the party’s objectives.
The ex-Senate President emphasized that the solutions to these leadership disputes are within the party’s constitution, though legal challenges have complicated their resolution. He stressed the importance of addressing these issues promptly and transparently, noting, “It is incumbent upon us to resolve this matter with utmost urgency, guided by transparency, fairness, and the best interests of our party and its members.”
As the PDP approaches a critical phase with the expiration of Ward and LGA executive structures across several states, Wabara sees a key opportunity for revitalization and strategic repositioning to meet upcoming challenges and opportunities.
Adding to the discussion, the acting National Chairman, Damagum, reassured party members about ongoing efforts to strengthen the PDP’s position. “We have been active and diligent despite the challenges that have arisen in various forms. We have two elections approaching in Edo and Ondo. We are optimistic that following the upcoming primary in Ondo, the future of that election looks promising for us. We have performed admirably to the extent that we can confidently say that in that election, with our collective efforts, we will emerge victorious,” he concluded.
