By Milcah Tanimu
Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, has firmly stated that he will not be coerced into stepping down from his position.
Damagum made this declaration during the inauguration of the National Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committees. He voiced his frustration with those spreading falsehoods about the National Working Committee’s (NWC) activities and noted that such criticism has, paradoxically, bolstered his popularity. Damagum hinted at a potential presidential bid, saying, “To all those discussing Damagum, let me be clear: I cannot be intimidated. The more you talk about me, the more popular I become.”
Recent developments suggest that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) may consider disciplinary action against Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu. This follows an alleged letter they sent to the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, which some view as contrary to party interests. Calls for sanctions from party leaders, including those from the National Executive Committee (NEC), have intensified.
The party’s NWC has been fractured over the ongoing Rivers State dispute between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike. The controversial letter from Damagum and Anyanwu reportedly asked the Deputy Registrar of the Court of Appeal to disregard a previous communication from PDP National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade. That letter had announced the party’s withdrawal from a lawsuit involving 25 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last December.
Stay tuned for more updates.
