New information has surfaced on the failure of former vice president Atiku Abubakar’s plan to install a candidate from the North Central to succeed Amb. Umar Damagum as the acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
PDP crisis Atiku disintegration and plot against Damagum
Vizta Daily discovered on Saturday that Damagum’s backers, who are primarily supporters of Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), fostered the myth that legal actions would obstruct efforts to remove him from office.
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In response, the Atiku team advised Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu, the former National Chairman, to remove the matter he had on file against the party. Yes, he did.
Ayu was in court contesting his dismissal from the position. His move was hailed as a triumph since it was understood to the elimination of any legal barriers to his replacement leaving his area.
The alternative was that the party’s candidate for governor of Nasarawa State in the 2023 elections, Dr. David Umbugadu, would be nominated, or former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, and former PDP deputy national secretary, Emmanuel Agbo, would both be from Benue State. This was not the case.
The PDP’s official spokesperson, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, provided the party’s justification for delaying action on the Damagum replacement issue.
“Our party stresses the need for reconciliation and stability within the party at this time,” Ologunagba stated. As a result, the National Chairman Damagum issue has been postponed until the following NEC meeting, which is now set for August 15, 2014.
But according to Saturday Vanguard findings showed that those supporting Atiku’s dismissal of Damagum had overlooked important points in their planning.
They unintentionally or conveniently let fifth columnists working for Atiku’s fiercest opponent, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, to take advantage of them.
“With all the media bliss surrounding agitations for a candidate from the North Central, there was nothing before our governors forum, caucus, or NEC to suggest seriousness,” stated a high senior party leader who begged for anonymity out of fear of retaliation.The zone should have sent us a written statement expressing their intention to take over Ayu’s vacant position. This was not completed.
Whoever is advising them has also failed to take into account the 2017 amendment to Section 45(2) of the Constitution proposed by our party. which discusses national officers’ resignation or removal.
It states that in the event that the National Chairman is unable to serve in that capacity, he must defer to the Deputy National Chairman from his own region or portion of the nation, who will operate in that capacity in accordance with Section 47(6) of the Constitution until a successor is elected.
Remember that when Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu was set to be elected National Chairman, he was escorted around by Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State at the time, a well-known figure in the Wike-led group of five (G-5) governors.
He is successful in persuading party stakeholders—first in his region, then nationally—to support Ayu.
But this time, the party mainstay claimed, “They (the Atiku camp) made the appropriate noises in the media but were unable to mobilize effectively.
“They also neglected to consider the tension that has developed in many states around the contentious list of Caretaker Committee members.”In this regard, the governors gave Damagum a second chance at redemption when he agreed to make the required changes to the list.
The source went on to say that underestimating Wike’s impact would be foolish.
“Apart of the current 13 governors, if taken in tandem, there is no anybody within our party today who has the abilities to distribute favoritism in both kind and money like Wike for obvious reasons,” the speaker claimed.The advantages and disadvantages of Damagum’s dismissal were considered during the actual Caucus meeting. It was decided that while he stays, the matter shouldn’t be listed on the schedule. That explains why it wasn’t on the NEC meeting’s agenda.
Wike is currently making sure the Waziri don’t take over the party after working against Atiku in the presidential race. It seems he’s the party leader for the time being.
The matter of Rivers State
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Another party source, present at the late-Wednesday pre-National Caucus meeting between Governors and the Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC), disclosed that the list problem, particularly with regard to Rivers State, resulted in an altercation.
“Tempers rose, voices were raised, tables were struck, but no one slapped anyone,” the person claimed.The group that created the list and Capt. Umar Bature, the National Organizing Secretary, received verbal abuse for not appropriately consulting state governors prior to the list’s release.
When the Rivers case was presented, Governor Similaye Fubura rejected the list with no holds barred.
“Among his fellow governors, he found strong allies, particularly Governor Bala Mohammed, Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State, and Governor Sheriff of Delta State.”
The NWC was then given the task of quickly notifying the public of the outcome of their search for “a political solution” to the issues brought out by the governor.
Wike’s victorious arrival at NEC
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, arrived for the NEC meeting wearing the full regalia of his position, complete with an official escort of cars with sirens screaming following the start of the conflict the gathering.
Prior to this, the PDP National Secretariat’s entrance and exit points were cordoned off by a combined team of armed security personnel led by Ben Igwe, the Commissioner of Police in Charge of the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service, and Department of State Services (DSS) agents.
Numerous armored personnel carriers and numerous trucks filled with fully equipped riot police officers were positioned in key spots throughout the area.
Due to the strong security presence, traffic was diverted, which caused congestion to extend from the well-liked Sky Memorial Complex to the Berger Roundabout.
Thank you singers, admirers, and snack and drink vendors who typically provide color on these occasions were limited to areas distant from the meeting location.
