Yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) factions clashed over the “warning letters” by the camp of Ambassador Umar Damagum to two members of the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Organising Secretary, Capt. Umar Bature.
Reflecting on the polarisation, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose said PDP is in a terminal coma without the hope of survival.
The two letters were sent to the party officers on September 30 by a section of the NWC advising them to halt their alleged anti-party activities.
The two officers were accused of indulging in activities that brought the party to public disrepute, hatred, and contempt in gross violation of the PDP constitution.
Other infractions listed include hobnobbing with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its government, disobedience and refusal to carry out lawful directives of the party and engaging in conduct that causes disaffection and disunity in various chapters.
Signatories to the letter include factional National Chairman Damagum, Chief Ali Odefa, whose claim to the position of the National Vice Chairman (Southeast) was invalidated by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday and Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, Zonal Caretaker Chairman (Southsouth), whose caretaker committee was dismissed by the same court which upheld the zonal congress that elected Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s loyalist, Chief Dan Orbih, as the Southsouth leader of the PDP.
Abdulrahman Mohammed, who was announced as chairman of the Wike/Anyanwu faction, also allegedly signed the letter.
However, Anyanwu and Bature dismissed the letters as an afterthought conjured to paint a false picture and justify the illogical and unworkable suspension.
“It is nonsense. Can anyone there dare give me a warning letter?” Anyanwu queried.
Also drawing attention to the party’s constitution, Bature said none of the purported signatories to the letter have any authority to write warning letters or suspend any member of the NWC.
He said: “Not at all. They just want to try to justify the nonsense they did. They don’t have any power to write such or to suspend anybody.”
Fayose, who addressed reporters in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, said that the party has lost its soul and direction, adding that its leaders are acting as “undertakers” presiding over its burial.
