PDP govs, NWC move to remove Damagun, Wike’s loyalist, as acting national chairman

Nigerian Governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the National Working Committee of the party have resolved to sack IIiya Umar Damagum as the acting National Chairman of the party.

Bauchi State Governor, who doubles as the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, made the revelation on Tuesday night shortly after meeting with the party’s NWC

DAILY POST reports that Damagum is a staunch loyalist of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

He was made the acting Chairman of the party following the removal of Iyorchia Ayu as the national chairman in June 2023.

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Speaking on the leadership crisis rocking the main opposition party, Governor Mohammed, who addressed journalists shortly after the meeting with the party’s NWC, said it is a “constitutional aberration” for Damagum to remain in office.

He said the North Central would be given the opportunity to complete the tenure of the former national chairman, Ayu who hailed from Benue State.

He said, “My brother from the North East is acting as the National Chairman and it is a constitutional aberration because according to our Constitution, any vacancy that exists of leadership position should return where it is created

“We know the North Central has been craving for it and we have discussed the issue and would work with that as the chairman, the National Working Committee and the Party to ensure that the North Central is given the opportunity to assume that responsibility.

“The North East also benefited from such constitutional arrangements after the resignation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. Former Governor Ahmadu Muazu became the National Chairman of the PDP. It is not something that is in contention by the grace of God.”

PDP govs, NWC move to remove Damagun, Wike’s loyalist, as acting national chairman

Fubara suspends local govt caretaker chairman

Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has suspended Otonye Briggs, caretaker committee chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state.
A statement on Tuesday by the governor’s spokesperson, Nelson Chukwudi, said the suspension was with immediate effect.
Chukwudi however did not state the reasons for Briggs’ suspension.
He said Governor Fubara had directed Bitebobo Nelson Amieye to take over as caretaker committee chairman.
The governor also directed Briggs to hand over all council property in his possession to Amieye immediately.
Briggs was inaugurated on June 19, with 23 other caretaker committee chairmen.

We have enough water to quench Wike’s fire, says Bauchi gov

Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, says the state government has enough water to quench the fire that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, threatened to put in the states of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors supporting Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.

Fubara and Wike have been at daggerdrawn for months over the control of Rivers PDP.

Speaking at a PDP congress in Rivers recently, the FCT minister warned governors in the party against interfering in the affairs of the opposition party in Rivers state.

Wike then said he would “put fire” in the states of the governors siding with Fubara.

Bauchi governor who on Tuesday hosted some members of PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) said nobody could set Bauchi on fire.

“We are together; nobody can put fire in Bauchi,” the governor said.

“We have volumes of water that will quench the fire – even my friend (Wike) that said so, it is because he is annoyed. But it is not personal.

“My friend is my friend, and my job is my job, leadership is leadership.

“This unsolicited visit by the NWC shows that in Nigeria, we have hope, and we are connected by the value and the stability of PDP for peace and stability in our party and in our country.

“Yes, none of the parties is isolated in terms of crisis here and there. Crises are there, that is why leadership is also there. That is why we have to take the bull by the horns to discuss and look at the constitution of our party PDP.

“All the parties must do things by the rule of law. We must respect people, we must put our interest aside, we must respect our diversity. We must meet and close ranks especially when the issue has to do with our party, the PDP.

“Our party has pedigree and most of the development in this country was done by the PDP.

“When PDP left, nothing was done.”

National Legal Adviser of the party, Kamaldeen Adeyemi, said they visited the Bauchi governor to identify with him.