Wike vs Atiku: Fresh moves to sack Damagum begin
The camps of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and that of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have returned to the drawing board to re-strategise ahead of the rescheduled National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for November 28.
Wike had, while addressing his supporters in Port-Harcourt at an event, last week, promised to continue to be “a problem for Atiku, Obi and some PDP governors”, who are politically opposed to him and President Bola Tinubu.
Sunday Vanguard gathered in Abuja that Wike and his loyalists have been holding meetings in Abuja and Port-Harcourt to safeguard what they consider a string of court victories in the intra-party power struggle.
The camp considered it advantageous that the NEC meeting was rescheduled to November because it would save time for its poster boy, the PDP Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, to remain in office.
In contrast, the Atiku camp has been licking its wounds since the former substantive National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, resigned his position and moves to replace him with a candidate from the North Central has been stalling.
A decision by a Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the NEC and the party’s Board of Trustees from removing Damagum from office has further complicated matters.
Appealing court order
Party insiders, however, confirmed to Sunday Vanguard, that a team of lawyers under the guidance of two prominent Senior Advocates of Nigeria is being assembled to appeal the court order.
A member of the party’s NEC familiar with this development who spoke on condition of anonymity, for fear of retribution said, “Of course, we are appealing the court order.
“Go back to the resolution of our 98th NEC meeting held on April 18th. It was resolved that the NWC should conduct congresses at the relevant levels in states where the tenures of their executives have lapsed and prepare grounds for a replacement for Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu who resigned from his position.
“But for some strange reasons, Damagum has found one excuse or another to cling to power in an acting capacity by refusing to convene NEC.
“To further complicate matters, he caused his lieutenants in Yobe State, to go to court to restrain the Board of Trustees and NEC from removing him from office.
“This man is still the Deputy National Chairman (North), a position he also holds today.
“How can a man who says he has the party’s best interest at heart, go to court and tie our hands by removing one of the main items on the agenda of our NEC meeting?
“We have news for him, he can’t be acting chairman in perpetuity. That judgement or whatever it is will be appealed and vacated.”
The source further explained that it was out of place for the Wike camp to celebrate the latest shift in the date for the NEC meeting.
Ondo election
The source said, “The shift in the date for the NEC meeting was a win-win for everyone. Irrespective of which camp any of us belongs to, no one wants to be blamed if anything goes wrong with the Ondo State governorship election.
“Yes, the postponement gives Damagum more time but it also affords others the time to go to Court and get the contentious order vacated. “
The North-Central is however not giving up on its demand to produce Ayu’s replacement.
A former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said it would be wishful thinking for anyone to imagine the zone will give up on its desire to have the letter and spirit of Section 47 (6) of the party’s constitution respected.
He said, “The PDP is a party built on the rule of law as enshrined in our constitution. Our party is the only institution that has survived this long as a political party.
“The reason is simple; we have always bounced back even when some people think we are finished.
“Our demand that the North-Central produce Ayu’s successor to complete what is left of his tenure is intact.”
Already, party chieftains from Benue State where Ayu hails from have started signifying interest in the position.
A former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, had told those who cared to listen that he is interested.
Also, a businessman turned politician, Conrad Utaan, who has also declared interest, said the PDP National Chairmanship should not be the exclusive preserve of those who have held one public office or another.
Utaan said, “It is my desire to lead this party with humility, with sacrifice, and the only person who can, the only people who can help me drive this message are you that is sitting here around this table, because I may not have what it takes.”
While recognizing the influence of governors and ex-governors of the party in the scheme of things, he maintained that he would join other stakeholders to ensure the right things were done.
He said, “They could be perceived owners of the party- the governor’s. That’s a huge block that cannot be ignored in the party. But then there’s also an issue of law and morality.
“But maybe I’ve come again to bell the cat. It is not about who is interested in the North Central or not. It is about the law and interpretation of the law, and trust me, we have what it takes to extract that interpretation.”