As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prepares for its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on October 24, tensions have arisen among members regarding who should replace the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum. The party, which has been dealing with internal conflicts since 2023, faces division over which region should provide the new leader.
Several members, particularly from the North Central region, have voiced their dissatisfaction with Damagum’s leadership, accusing him of not doing enough to reform the party. These members are now pushing for his removal and are insisting that his replacement should come from their zone.
Citing Section 47(6) of the PDP constitution, which states that if a vacancy arises in a party office, someone from the same area or zone must be appointed to complete the term, North Central members believe they have the right to nominate the next National Chairman.
However, the issue has sparked disagreement among senior party figures. Segun Showunmi, a 2023 PDP governorship aspirant in Ogun State, and Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s former National Publicity Secretary, have opposing views on the matter.
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Ologbondiyan is firmly in favor of the North Central region providing the new chairman. He argued, “What the North Central is agitating for is for Damagum to leave that post and return to his position as Deputy National Chairman. The zone will then nominate a suitable person to replace him and complete the tenure.” He further emphasized, “We are demanding that North Central be given its rightful place in the National Working Committee, which is the position of National Chairman of the party.”
Showunmi, on the other hand, challenged the idea that the position is reserved for the North Central region. He believes the party needs broader leadership, regardless of zone, to move forward. “What led to the removal of the last Chairman? Was it not the North Central issues at the heart of this problem? The party will lose if they continue this way,” Showunmi stated.
He also called for the PDP to focus on attracting younger members and fresh ideas. “I am from the South, and I have the best ideas to get this party moving right now. We need to bring young people into this party,” he added. Showunmi expressed his personal commitment to the party, saying, “By even putting myself forward for this, I am taking a big risk with my money and time. So, it is not about the zone; it is about the PDP, and I am saying all this because we cannot have a one-party state.”