In anticipation of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for October 24, two prominent members of the party are in disagreement over which region should nominate a successor for the party’s interim National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
Since 2023, the PDP has faced internal conflicts, with some members accusing Damagum of failing to implement adequate reforms within the party.
Members of the PDP, particularly from the North Central region, have therefore called for Damagum’s removal and insist that his replacement should come from their zone.
They cited Section 47(6) of the party’s constitution, which states that when a party office becomes vacant, the Executive Committee must appoint a replacement from the same region or zone as the outgoing officer to complete the term.
Segun Showunmi, the 2023 PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, disagreed with Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s former National Publicity Secretary, over which zone should select Damagum’s successor.
Ologbondiyan argued that the replacement should be selected from the North Central region, while Showunmi maintained that the position was not specifically reserved for that area.
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“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,” Ologbondiyan stated.
“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,” he added.
Showunmi, however, said, “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.
“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. 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.”
