Cynthia Ezegwu
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has said the recent developments within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) indicate that there is no immediate hope for the party’s return to power.
Fayose, who on Saturday threw his weight behind the suspension of the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum, by a faction of the party, also congratulated the PDP National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, on his emergence as the Acting National Chairman.
Speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, Fayose described the PDP as being in a “hopeless situation” and “a shadow of itself,” urging Abdulrahman to reconcile aggrieved members, reposition the party, and begin preparations for a national convention.
“The party needs a leader who can reunite everybody at this time,” Fayose said. “There is no hope of PDP coming back for now. Even the captains of our boat are jumping ship. They are moving from one bed to another. So, who is going to hold the party together? PDP has reasonably gone into extinction, unfortunately.”
He accused the Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) of “burying the party,” saying they lacked the capacity to restore unity.
“Damagum will go the way of Iyorchia Ayu. His last service to the party was before his suspension. He was not supposed to be the chairman in the first place but manipulated the process to become one and caused so much confusion everywhere,” Fayose stated.
The PDP plunged deeper into crisis on Saturday as fresh divisions emerged within its leadership, with a faction announcing the suspension of Damagum and five other members of the NWC.
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Announcing the development, PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, named Mohammed Abdulrahman as the Acting National Chairman.
Anyanwu said Damagum was suspended for “incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgment,” adding that he would face the party’s disciplinary committee.
He also announced the suspension of the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and the Deputy National Vice Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, among others, for alleged misconduct.
Earlier, the Damagum-led NWC had announced the suspension of Anyanwu, the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and two other members, signaling a widening rift within the opposition party.