- I Can’t Be Intimidated Into Resigning – Acting Chair, Damagum Roars
- Says There Was. precedent To The Letter To The Appeal Court
- I Don’t Run From A Fight, I Won’t Leave PDP, Wike Taunts Clark
There appears to be no end in sight to the perennial crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if recent developments are anything to go by.
This is despite the inauguration of a Reconciliation and Disciplinary committee by the party.
The Matrix gathered that fresh trouble started when the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Iliya Damagum and the Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu countered the position of the party’s national legal adviser, Mr. Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN in a controversial letter to the Appeal Court on the case involving the embattled 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Damagum and Anyanwu, had in the August 16, 2024 letter to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, said the party “did not authorise the filing “of a Notice of Discontinuance on July 24 in respect of a case involving the party at the Appeal Court.
”The appeal with No CA/PH/307/2024 is principally against 27 members of the State House of Assembly who, on the 11th of December, 2023, defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Shortly after, indications emerged that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) might sanction Damagum and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, over an alleged letter to the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.
READ ALSO: INEC Confirms 177,914 New Voters For Edo, Ondo Elections
The letter was seen as an anti-party activity, and some party leaders, including members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), reportedly pushed for action against Damagum and Anyanwu
Addressing the issue, Damagum warned that nobody can intimidate him into resigning from his position.
Damagum said those calling for his resignation are only enhancing his popularity.
peaking at the inauguration of the National Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committees, the acting chairman berated those spreading misinformation about the National Working Committee’s operations.
“Let me send a message to everyone talking about Damagum this, Damagum that – I cannot be intimidated. The more you mention me, the more popular I become,” Damagum said.
Also responding to the issue of the letter to thee Appeal Court, Damagum said.
“I also want to use this opportunity to clear certain insinuations that have been trending on social media. Last I checked, the signatories of this party are the chairman and the secretary.
“Just because the chairman and secretary signed a letter, it has become an issue. People are making all sorts of insinuations about it. I don’t want to engage with the other person—it’s a distraction.
READ ALSO: Gale Of Defection Hits APC In Edo State As Hundreds Defect To PDP In Oredo LGA
“But it pains me when I see someone who knows the workings of the NWC going on television to mislead the audience and say things that are not correct. It is painful. Very, very painful.
“There is precedent for what we did. During Kashamu’s case, the chairman and secretary brought it to the Supreme Court. There was also the issue of Anambra.
“Two issues arose. The chairman and secretary, in any situation, work as a team. I don’t make decisions without consulting my members,” the acting PDP national chairman stated.
In another bout of crisis, Nyesom Wike, Minister Of The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says he will not leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to the internal crisis in the party.
Wike spoke on Wednesday during a media parley organised to commemorate his one year in office as FCT minister.
Recently, Edwin Clark, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said Wike needs to leave PDP for the party to survive.
In an open letter to Damagum, the acting national chairman of the PDP, Clark said he would not allow Wike to destroy the country’s main opposition party and Rivers state.
At the moment, the PDP is battling internal wrangling at the national level.
The PDP in Rivers is also facing crisis as Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, are at loggerheads over the control of the state and party.
Responding to a question during the media parley if he would leave the PDP if the crisis in Rivers persists, Wike said, “I don’t run away from a fight.”
“I have told you that I don’t run away from a fight. I will stay there and fight it out. Who am I going to run from? The vampires?” he said.
“Did I not say I won’t support the presidential candidate of PDP? Did I do it secretly?”
Wike also said his position is that the Rivers state house of assembly must be allowed to function.
The former governor said it is “impunity and madness” for three lawmakers to constitute the Rivers assembly and pass the state budget.
“I have made it very clear that the Rivers house of assembly must work. You sit in your house and say three people will constitute an assembly. You say these people have defected; who pronounces defection?” Wike said.
“You have gone to court several times, but you can wait for the judgment of the court.”
Wike added that the court should be allowed to make a final pronouncement on the defection of the lawmakers loyal to him.
