The heightening extremity within the Peoples Democratic Party has further widened, as former governors Samuel Ortom( Benue) and Ayo Fayose( Ekiti) have thrown their weight behind the Nyesom Wike- led body of the party’s National Working Committee.
This development comes as patriots of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and other governors regroup to remobilise support and challenge the Wike camp ahead of the party’s public convention.
In separate statements on Sunday, Ortom and Fayose championed the PDP body led by the National Vice Chairman( North Central), Abdulrahman Mohammed, while condemning the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, for the party’s worsening internal extremity.
Despite medications for its National Elective Convention listed for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, the PDP remains enmeshed in internal wrangling over control of structures, zonal leadership, and convention arrangements.
Wike’s sympathizers have indicted the Damagum- led leadership of bias and incapacity, citing undetermined controversies in the South- South zone and contended casualness formicro-zoning principles.
Pressures escalated on Friday when the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim instruction restraining the party from holding its convention pending compliance with its constitution and the Electoral Act.
Justice James Omotosho ordered the PDP to suspend all convention medications until farther notice, a ruling that has now strengthened the division within the party.
On Saturday, the Damagum- led NWC blazoned the suspense of National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade( SAN); Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, for contendedanti-party conditioning.
In a nippy response, the rival body led by Anyanwucounter-suspended Damagum, National hype Secretary Debo Ologunagba, Deputy National Chairman( South) Taofeek Arapaja, and others for alleged fiscal misconduct and incapacity.
Replying to the extremity,ex-Benue governor, Ortom, criticized poor leadership and exclusionary politics for the PDP’s disarray.
Ortom, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, said his warnings on the need for inclusiveness and conciliation were ignored by the leadership.
“ Democracy thrives when people of different views come together for the common good, ” Ortom said. “ Unfortunately, a many individualities have tried to run the party without expedient to collaborative discussion. ”
He described the emergence of Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting National Chairman as “ a fresh occasion to rebuild trust and heal internal injuries, ” prompting all organs of the party to embrace conciliation.
also,ex-Ekiti governor, Fayose, backed the suspense of Damagum by the Mohammed- led body, describing the development as “ a necessary step to deliver the party from total collapse. ”
Speaking with intelligencers in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, Fayose said, “ The PDP is in a hopeless situation. The Damagum- led NWC are morticians they’ve come to bury the party. But maybe, Abdulrahman can be the croaker
that revives it. ”
He indicted Damagum of incapacity and arrogance, likening his fate to that of former National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu.
“Damagum will go the way of Ayu, ” Fayose said. “ He manipulated the process to remain in office and caused wide confusion. We’ll support Abdulrahman to budge the PDP, correct the state chapters, and prepare for the convention. ”
Meanwhile, sources close to Governor Makinde told The PUNCH that the Oyo bloc and confederated governors are meeting to strategise on how to capsize the court instruction and reclaim control of the party’s direction.
A source said, “ We are n’t folding our hands. We’ve the maturity, and conversations are ongoing on how to appeal the judgment and keep medications for the convention alive. ”
Former presidential seeker, Gbenga Olawepo- Hashim, also condemned the court ruling halting the PDP convention, describing it as “ a advised move to weaken the opposition and weaponise the bar. ”
He contended that “ both external pressures and internal sabotage are being stationed to stifle the PDP and lodge a one- party governance, ” but assured that “ true egalitarians will repel attempts to destroy multiparty republic in Nigeria. ”
In Osun State, Senator Adenigba Fadahunsi, who lately defected from the PDP to the All Revolutionaries Congress, declared that the PDP was “ as good as dead. ”
Speaking at his Ilase- Ijesa country home, Fadahunsi said, “ We did n’t abandon the PDP; the PDP abandoned itself. The party is dead, and those still there should n’t sink with the boat. ”
He, still, lauded President Bola Tinubu’s profitable reforms, expressing sanguinity that they would yield positive results in due course.
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