The majority of governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party are advocating for the removal of the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, according to sources at NewsNow.
This group of governors includes Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Sheriff Orohwedor (Delta), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).
Others are Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Amadu Fintri (Adamawa), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo).
The PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), Damagun, assumed the role of acting National Chairman in March following a high court order that restrained and later suspended Senator Iyorchia Ayu from acting as the party’s national chairman.
NewsNow has learned exclusively that a majority of PDP governors have concurred that the party requires a complete overhaul from top to bottom.
A reliable source within the party’s National Executive Committee, close to some of the governors, affirmed, “They are not in favor of confirming Damagum as the PDP substantive National Chairman.”
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the source divulged that the governors have their agenda and that it does not involve retaining Damagum.
When asked about the confirmation of Damagum in light of the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the 2023 Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s case and affirmation of President Bola Tinubu’s victory, the source stated that stakeholders will reposition the party.
The source emphasized, “Certainly, we will evaluate our performance and determine the course for new leadership within the party. The governors are not keen on endorsing Damagum as the PDP National Chairman, as they have their own plans to reposition the party from top to bottom.
“However, all decisions and implementation will commence at the next NEC meeting,” added the source.
Clarifying the postponement of the NEC meeting, the source noted, “During the last PDP governors’ forum meeting, the governors unanimously agreed that it is not the best time to convene a NEC meeting.
“They highlighted that holding the NEC meeting now would divert the attention of party members from the imminent governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo. Hence, they delayed it to allow party members to focus on these governorship elections.”
Another high-ranking member of the PDP National Working Committee remarked, “It is not feasible to hold the NEC meeting now when our focus should be on winning the governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa.”
Efforts to obtain a comment from the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered and he did not respond to text messages at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shakarau, in an interview with our correspondent, urged for a post-mortem on the party’s performance.
He expressed, “The most crucial task for the PDP at this critical juncture is to conduct a post-mortem analysis. There is an urgent need for the party to investigate what transpired during the 2023 election.
“Yes, God grants power to whomever He wills. However, the same God has instructed humans that His actions are purposeful. Hence, the challenge for humans, in this case, PDP members, is to analyze these reasons and determine the necessary steps to make amends.
“So, my general recommendation for the PDP is to conduct a post-mortem analysis of what unfolded. The party should also settle all grievances, reconcile aggrieved members, take disciplinary action where necessary, and move forward.”
