A faction of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has accused Acting National Chairman Umar Iliya Damagum and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu of plotting to undermine the party’s interests in Rivers State.
The faction claims Damagum and Anyanwu are working against the party’s legal team, led by National Legal Adviser Ajibade, SAN, in a legal dispute involving 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC,.
In a statement issued by Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere and made available to journalists in Abuja, the faction alleges that Damagum and Anyanwu filed an appeal against an interim court order restraining the APC lawmakers, despite the National Legal Adviser’s decision to withdraw the appeal.
They argue that this move violates the party’s constitution and betrays the trust placed in its leadership.
The opposition spokesperson further accused Damagum and Anyanwu of siding with the pro-Wike faction of APC lawmakers who defected from the PDP, allegedly assisting them in regaining legitimacy.
This, according to Ugochinyere, is an attempt to destabilize Governor Fubara’s PDP-led government in Rivers State.
The case, marked PHC/2177/CS/2024, revolves around the defection of 27 PDP lawmakers to the APC on December 11, 2023. Ugochinyere stated that the Rivers State High Court had issued an ex parte order on July 8, 2024, preventing state officials from interacting with the defected lawmakers.
However, he accused former Governor Nyesom Wike of engaging in “anti-party” activities by hiring Dr. J.Y. Musa, SAN, to file an unauthorized appeal against the court’s order, despite the opposition of the PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Ajibade, SAN.
He said.”The National Legal Adviser, constitutionally empowered to protect the interests of the PDP, had already moved to withdraw the appeal on July 24, 2024, recognizing its potential harm to the party,” Ugochinyere stated.
“However, in a shocking turn of events, on August 15, 2024, Damagum and Anyanwu sent a letter to the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, dissociating themselves from the withdrawal, effectively undermining the Legal Adviser’s authority.”
The Opposition Coalition lawmakers argue that this action by the party’s leadership is part of a broader scheme to destabilize the PDP in Rivers State and pave the way for the APC’s political ambitions.
They claim that this is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of interference by Damagum and Anyanwu in several other legal cases in Abuja and Port Harcourt, all allegedly aimed at weakening the PDP.
Ugochinyere warned of dire consequences if this “plot” is allowed to succeed, including the erosion of internal democracy within the PDP, potential fragmentation of the party, loss of public trust, and significant legal and financial repercussions.
He called for immediate action, including reaffirming the authority of the National Legal Adviser, taking legal steps to restrain the National Chairman and Secretary from further interference, and convening a disciplinary committee to investigate their actions.
“The PDP must stand united in the face of this betrayal,” Ugochinyere urged. “We call on all members of the PDP and well-meaning Nigerians to join us in defending the integrity of our party and ensuring that justice prevails.”
(allnews.ng)
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