The catastrophe in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shown no sign of subsiding, as 11 members of the National Working Committee (NWC) moved against the acting PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, in the ongoing legal battle over the party’s secretary, according to Sunday Punch.
Damagum is being asked to be removed as acting National Chairman of PDP to allow a new person to emerge. They also noted that Anyanwu should be replaced since he had emerged as candidate for the Imo State governorship elections.
In a letter dated January 21, addressed separately to the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and the President/Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, which was cited by Sunday Punch, the 11 NWC members stated that the NWC did not give authorisation for Damagum to appoint Dr. J. Y. Musa, SAN, to represent the party and others in the appeal case.
The letter was signed by the Deputy National Chairman, South, Taofeek Arapaja; National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN; National Treasurer, Yayari Ahmed; National Deputy Secretary, Setonji Ikoshoedo; National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba; and the National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyengikuro.
The rest are the National Women Leader, Amina Bryhm; National Auditor, Obi Okechukwu; National Vice Chairman South East, Ali Odefa; National Vice Chairman North East, Emmanuel Bovoa; and National Vice Chairman North West, Hayatu Gwarzo (whose name appeared on the letter without a signature). They emphasised that the responsibility of appointing external solicitors to represent the party in legal cases lied with the National Legal Adviser.
According to these NWC members, this is following Article 42 of the PDP constitution.
The letter, sent to the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and the President, Bola Tinubu, was received and stamped on January 24, while the one addressed to the President/Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal was received and stamped on January 23.