A fresh plot is said to be unfolding within the ranks of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to not only retain the incumbent acting national chairman, Iliya Damagum, for the remainder of Dr Iyorchia Ayu’s tenure but also get him elected for a substantive tenure at the 2025 national convention of the party.
Although the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting had initially been fixed for November 28, a meeting of the PDP Governors Forum held in Bauchi at the weekend suggested the postponement of the NEC to sometime in February 2025, to enable the party to resolve its internal squabbles.
Sources, however, told the Nigerian Tribune that the decision to shift the NEC was a victory for those pushing for Damagum’s retention not only until the end of 2025 but beyond.
A source said that two camps have already emerged within the PDP. While one camp, which includes some governors and other stakeholders is said to be working for the retention of Damagum, the other camp, which also comprises some governors and members of other structures of the party is said to be working for the emergence of a “true party man,” who would ensure the constitution of the party is followed to the letter.
Damagum, who is from the North-East geopolitical zone, was originally elected as deputy national chairman (North) before he took office as acting national chairman of the party, following the removal of Dr Iyorchia Ayu.
The party’s constitution stipulates that a replacement for Ayu must come from his geopolitical zone, but intrigues had taken over the scene, ensuring a prolonged delay in effecting the replacement.
A plot to produce a substantive replacement from the North-Central has come against the brick wall, following repeated postponement of the NEC. The last NEC meeting held on April 18 had set August 15 for the 99th NEC but that meeting has been postponed first to October 24, then to November 28, which has now been further pushed forward by the Governors’ Forum.
Investigations revealed that while those pushing for Damagum’s replacement wanted someone who could take over in a substantive capacity immediately, those in favour of his continuation in the office were secretly working on how he would complete the remainder of Ayu’s tenure and again get re-elected in 2025 for a full tenure.
“The PDPGF meeting in Bauchi completely favours the plot of those working for Damagum’s retention, a source said, adding that it has now become clear that the plan is not only to keep Damagum in office till 2025 but to ensure he is elected the national chairman for a full tenure at the national convention due to take place in October 2025.
It was gathered that an attempt by the Puritans to prevail on a former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, to accept the role of national chairman, who would complete Ayu’s tenure was rebuffed by the former Senate helmsman, who was said to have told his close associates that he would prefer to take such a role at a time he could make impact on the fortunes of the party, rather than only stay in office for about 10 months.
However a source said that the camp seeking Mark’s ascension to the national chairmanship seat would not relent on the push as according to him, they believe that the former Senate President could lay a solid foundation for the emergence of a candidate who could hold the party together.
“We know that the plan of those backing Damagum is to ensure he stays in office till the next national convention, such that he could work for the emergence of a chairman of their choice and most likely. They want to work on the NEC to ensure the position is zoned to the North East, so that Damagum could emerge as chairman but we are also pushing that a strong party man also emerges so that we can do things properly for once,” a source said on Sunday.
The source said that with the decision by the Governors’ forum to shift the NEC, the pro-Damagum forces appear to be winning.(Nigerian Tribune)
