April 18, (THEWILL) – The National Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has endorsed Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum to continue as the party’s acting National Chairman.
This is coming ahead of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 18.
THEWILL reports the growing agitation to remove Damagum as acting Chairman of Nigeria’s main opposition Party. His continued stay as acting Chairman has attracted serious opposition from many leaders and members of the party loyal to the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.
Damagum enjoys the backing of Nyesom Wike, while former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara as well as some bigwigs of the party, particularly from the North Central, are against Amb. Damagum remaining as the acting National Chairman.
Particularly, the North-Central PDP stakeholders and some opposition lawmakers had called for Damagum’s resignation to pave the way for a chairman from the North-Central region. They had also accused the acting National Chairman of not working in the interest of the party.
But party members loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, are insisting that Damagum be allowed to continue in office until a national convention is held in 2025 to elect a new national chairman.
However, the caucus, according to the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who read the outcome of the meeting, allowed Damagum to continue acting in office till the next NEC meeting after Thursday’s meeting.
He also said this Thursday’s NEC meeting would have nothing to do with leadership change until the next national convention of the party.
Ologunagba said the decision of the caucus was aimed at ensuring reconciliation and unity in the party.
“NEC meeting will not discuss any change in leaders. Rather, attention is focused on unity and reconciliation. Caucus agreed that all congresses in the states and local government should be concluded between June and August this year.
“Caucus agreed on the extension of the constitution review committee of the party to accept new recommendations,” he said.
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