PDP Members Split Over Damagum’s Replacement

Ahead of the National Executive Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for October 24, a disagreement has surfaced among party chieftains regarding the region that should produce a replacement for the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.

The PDP has been embroiled in internal turmoil since 2023, with some members criticizing Damagum for failing to implement effective reforms within the party.

In response to the ongoing issues, PDP members from the North Central region have demanded Damagum’s replacement, asserting that the new appointment must come from their area.

They cited Section 47(6) of the party’s constitution, which states that when a vacancy occurs in any party office, the Executive Committee must appoint a successor from the same zone as the outgoing officer to complete the term.

However, in an interview with Saturday Punch, Segun Showunmi, a 2023 PDP governorship aspirant in Ogun State, expressed a differing opinion from former National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

While Ologbondiyan contended that the replacement should indeed come from the North Central zone, Showunmi maintained that the position was not exclusively designated for that region.

“What the North Central is agitating for is for Damagum to leave that post and return to his position as Deputy National Chairman. The zone will then nominate a suitable person to replace him and complete the tenure,” Ologbondiyan stated.

“We are demanding that North Central be given its rightful place in the National Working Committee, which is the position of National Chairman of the party,” he added.

Showunmi, however, said, “What led to the removal of the last Chairman? Was it not the North Central issues at the heart of this problem? The party will lose if they continue this way.

“I am from the South, and I have the best ideas to get this party moving right now. We need to bring young people into this party. By even putting myself forward for this, I am taking a big risk with my money and time. So, it is not about the zone; it is about the PDP, and I am saying all this because we cannot have a one-party state.”