A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed Yayari Mohammed as the party’s acting national chair.

The development follows the suspension of Kamaldeen Ajibade, PDP’s national legal adviser, and Debo Ologunagba, national spokesperson of the party, on Friday.

The duo were suspended by the national working committee (NWC) led by Umar Damagum, acting national chair of the PDP, for alleged anti-party activities.

In a statement signed by Ologunagba, a faction of the NWC announced the suspension of Damagum and Sam Anyanwu, national secretary of the PDP, citing anti-party activities.

Ologunagba, while speaking for the group, said Mohammed’s appointment is in line with the PDP’s amended constitution of 2017 and takes immediate effect.

“Following the suspension of His Excellency, Ambassador Illiya Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved the appointment of Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the Acting National Chairman,” the statement reads.

“The appointment which takes immediate effect is pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

“The NWC calls on all Organs, leaders, critical stakeholder and members of our great Party to remain focused at this critical time especially as the NWC commences arrangements towards the holding of the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting already scheduled for Thursday, 24th October, 2024.”

Meanwhile, a federal high court in Abuja has restrained the NEC and BoT of the PDP from removing Damagum as the acting national chair.

In a judgment delivered via Zoom on Friday, Peter Lifu, the presiding judge, ordered that aside Damagum, no other person must be recognised as the PDP acting national chair until the party’s convention scheduled for December 2025.

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has taken a turn for the worse as members of the National Working Committee, NWC, have suspended the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum and Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, for alleged anti-party activities.

Vanguard gathered in Abuja that the decision to suspend the two national officers was taken at an emergency meeting held by a majority of members of the NWC which ended in the early hours of Friday.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, confirmed this development. He issued a statement conveying the NWC’s decision at 3:18 a.m.

The statement read: “The National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP has extensively considered the series of complaints raised against the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, particularly with regard to the letter addressed by them to the Court of Appeal in Appeal 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 Amb. Illiya Damagum and Sen. 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 programmes of the NWC pending the conclusion of investigation by the National Disciplinary Committee.”

BoT summons
The party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, had earlier enjoined all party members to endeavour to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee should they be summoned.

Chairman of the BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, had at the 78th meeting of the board urged the NWC to expediate action and ensure that the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, meets on October 24 as scheduled.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has dispelled recent media claims suggesting he appointed his daughter, Mrs Helen Obareki, as the First Lady following his wife’s passing.

Clarifying the situation during a recent visit by Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, Eno underscored that First Ladies are never appointed but are naturally positioned alongside governors.

Governor Eno’s wife, Mrs Patience Umo Eno, tragically passed away on 26 September 2024, with her family by her side.

As a result, the governor has asked his daughter, who served as her mother’s special assistant, to coordinate the Office of the First Lady, ensuring the continuity of essential social projects.

Eno explained the decision as a family comfort and a practical solution, stating, “Appointing her as the coordinator is not an appointment of a First Lady. You don’t appoint a First Lady.”

He elaborated, “In light of this sad situation, it is not only proper but also comforting and assuring for the daughter, who had been her closest assistant, to coordinate the lofty programmes of the office.”

With Mrs Obareki as coordinator, the governor emphasised that his late wife’s signature initiative, the “Golden Initiative For All,” which supports women, the elderly, and vulnerable groups, would continue uninterrupted.

He highlighted his daughter’s qualifications for the role, citing her experience, education, and long-standing involvement in these projects.

Governor Eno’s comments aimed to provide clarity, noting, “First Ladies come with the governor. This isn’t a political appointment but a natural continuation.”