Fresh crisis hits PDP as protesters demand national chair, NWC sack

Protesters, on Monday, stormed the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja, demanding the resignation of the party’s National Working Committee and the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum led NWC.

The protesters, who are members of a group under the aegis of PDP National Back Up, arrived at Wadata Plaza, citing the loss of the 2023 elections as the reason for their action.

Baring banners with the inscription “PDP National Working Committee NWC must resign”, the protesters lamented that the party had been reduced to nothing.

Addressing newsmen at the party’s secretariat, the leader of the protest, Salau Olusola, accused the PDP NWC of being anti-party, saying “The NWC is to be blamed for the party’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election.”

Olusola explained that the failure of the acting chairman Umar Damagum led NWC to discipline former Rivers State Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike’s camp for alleged anti-party divided the PDP.

Reading from a prepared speech, he said, “Wike and other members of the G-5 camp were involved in anti-party during the 2023 elections, yet the Damagum-led NWC refused to discipline them. So, they have divided the party into camps. This to us is unacceptable, Olusola said.

He stated, “Other reasons include ongoing internal disputes, factionalism, or lack of cohesion within the party can prompt calls for new leadership.”

“Poor electoral results may lead members to question the effectiveness of the leadership. And allegations of corruption, unethical behavior, or a failure to uphold the party’s principles can trigger calls for resignation.