By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Treasurer Ahmed Yayari Mohammed on Sunday said he has resumed as acting national chairman despite court order hanging over the party.

Although yet to visit the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, he said in a statement that he has started work as interim chairman following his endorsement by a section of the National Working Committee (NWC).

Mohammed vowed to carry out the responsibilities of the office, despite the Abuja High Court order restraining any party organ from removing the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and the peace moves by governors and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

The leadership crisis deepened as the factional Acting Chairman invited applications from those interested in the vacant position of National Chairman from the Northcentral geo-political zone.

The former national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, is from Benue State, one of the six states constituting the region.

The latest round in the PDP crisis broke out on Thursday when the NWC suspended National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade and National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba.

Shortly after, Ajibade and Ologunagba claimed that the NWC had suspended Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu.

They added that Yayari had been appointed acting National Chairman.

Also on Friday, a Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed Damagum as National Chair.

It restrained all organs of the party from removing him until December next year when his tenure is due to expire.

A former PDP governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose said with the court order, Damagum remains chair of the party.

But he said the counter suspension in the party had destroyed the fabric of the PDP.

“The party is gone,” he added.

‘I have resumed’
A statement by Mohammed titled: “Acceptance of appointment as Acting National Chairman of our party,” said he has replaced Damagum as acting chairman.

It reads: “The domestic events within our party in the last few days call for deep reflection about the management of the PDP, especially at this crucial time in our nation, particularly as it relates to our role as an opposition party and general management as a constitution compliant party in the true spirit of the mission and vision of the founding fathers which are equity, fairness and justice.

“I am humbled and grateful by the numerous messages of solidarity, support and best wishes received from members of our party across the country.

“The enthusiasm and relief expressed revealed the desire and determination of our members to see a PDP that is strong, democratic and based on strict adherence to its Constitution.

“Regrettably, we must admit that we have not satisfactorily carried out the critical role expected of a virile opposition in a democracy.

“This it has been observed is a result of conflict of interests – personal or political – elevated above party interest, which continues to have a debilitating effect on the ability of our party to perform effectively at various levels, particularly at the national level.

“This state of affairs continues to affect the performance and viability of our party to perform its role as expected as a platform which Nigerians have come to admire and look up to in view of the robust Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017 ) and the monumental achievements of the party in the 16 years in government, which period is referred to with nostalgia as the golden years• of governance in Nigeria.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, desirous of revamping the party in line with the vision of its founding fathers, on Thursday, October 10, 2024, appointed me as the Acting National Chairman to lead the charge to rekindle the hope and aspiration of our teeming members especially the youths, critical stakeholders and generality of Nigerians who wish to see a political party that is ready and willing to play the role of effective opposition in the quest to develop our democracy and seek for responsible and responsive government in our country

“The NWC under my leadership will be guided strictly by the constitution of our party and I will at all times be fair to all members irrespective of their status, position or state in the party.

“Only this will guarantee and engender loyalty and commitment of our teeming members.

“In this regard, my primary goal, focus and mandate in the onerous assignment is to restore the confidence of our members by immediately setting in motion the process to hold the long overdue National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of our party already scheduled for Thursday, October 24, 2024.

“In line with the provision of our party’s constitution, the Northcentral Zone which is constitutionality entitled to produce a replacement to serve out the tenure of the former National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, is hereby requested to urgently meet and forward its nominee to my office for necessary preparation and forwarding for consideration and approval by NEC at the October 24, 2024 meeting.

“I hereby seek and solicit the co-operation, support and advice from my colleagues NWC members, all organs of the party, especially the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT), National Assembly Caucus as well as leaders, critical stakeholders and members towards a successful NEC meeting that we can all be proud of.”

The Acting National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi Manga, said the factional acting chairman was daydreaming.

He also dismissed the insinuation that PDP governors had endorsed Damagum’s suspension. He described it as “lies from the pit of hell.”

Yayari not at party secretariat
The factional officers – Mohammed, Ologuagba and Ajibade – have not visited the PDP national secretariat since the crisis escalated at the weekend.

They have also not reacted to the order of the Abuja court that affirmed Damagum’s right to remain in office as acting national chairman until the national convention billed for December 2025.

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A member of the House of Representatives Ikenga Ugochinyere (Ideato North and South) Imo, commended Mohammed for his decision to hit the ground running.

He said the group would support the new acting leadership’s resolve to reform the party.

PDP is gone, says Fayose
PDP is gone, Fayose said on a television programme last night.

Noting that the main opposition party has been hit by internal strife, leadership squabbles and disunity, he said there was no solution in sight.

The former governor also said Vice President Atiku Abubakar should jettison his plan to contest for president, saying that age is not on his side.

He said: “I’m sure Atiku Abubakar will stay away from elective office politics. By the time Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will finish, Atiku will be around 80 to 81 years old. So, what will be the attraction?”

Atiku contested on the PDP platform in the 2019 and 2023 elections. He has expressed interest in running again in 2027.

Fasoye added: “We should leave the stage when the ovation is loudest. I respect him and I think Nigerians are craving for younger generations more than before.

“We can defeat a party, but when we don’t have a party, how shall we talk about defeat? As it stands, the party is gone.

“When the head is sick, the whole body is gone. This party will need God’s intervention; a miracle for the party to be put together again.

“In this instance, the party is not helping matters. When was the last time this party had a NEC meeting? When was the last time we sat down to talk together? When was the last time we sat together?

“We only hear of people being suspended, people going their ways, people exiting the party. It’s very, very unfortunate.”

Fayose said the PDP found itself in the quagmire because of its disdain for truth, adding that it cannot beat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in future elections.

He said: “It has been difficult to find a way out of the quagmire of disunity within the party because the party is not sitting on truth, equity, and fairness.”

Fayose attributed the current turmoil in PDP to past missteps and leadership failure, adding that “there is no doubt that your past will haunt you. That is the story of the party today.”

Lamenting that PDP NWC is dancing naked in public, the former governor said the suspension and counter-suspension of the party officials could herald a doom that would make PDP become history.

He said: “The current situation in our party has made a mockery of suspension and counter-suspension, especially at that level of leadership.

“Sadly, the current situation of the party has taken the party so low causing embarrassment.”

Be patient with Tinubu’
Fayose urged Nigerians to be patient with the Tinubu Administration

He said: “It’s not been too easy for Nigerians, but I think the government of President Bola Tinubu is giving its best. However, that best still needs to be upped.

“I know it’s not been too easy, but in a little time, things will get better. The damage to the economy is long-term, and the repairs will not come overnight.”

‘Ekiti governor will win re-election’
Fayose gave kudos to Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, saying he is on course.

He said he does not know the magic the state chapter of PDP would use to defeat him because it is neck-deep in crisis.

Fayose said most Ekiti leaders are behind Oyebanji, who is of the APC, because of his style of consultation, inclusion and wisdom.

He stressed that the governor has given the stakeholders a sense of belonging.

Fayose added: “He has the support of all leaders. He has visited me 18 times.”

The ex-governor explained that Oyebanji reconciled all the leaders and his predecessors in the state.

According to him, all former Ekiti governors are with the governor.

“Unless something different happens between now and the next election, the governor will win a second term,” Fayose predicted.

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