To bring peace between the feuding factions of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC) rose from their meeting on Thursday under the leadership of the acting chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and lifted the suspension of some leaders of the party.
Former Governors Ibrahim Shema (of Katsina State) and Ayodele Fayose were among those whose suspensions were lifted, according to Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party’s national publicity secretary (Ekiti State).
Others include Dr Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State), Professor Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State), and former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State).
The NWC also overturned the NWC led by Dr Iyorchia Ayu’s recommendation of Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State, to the National Disciplinary Committee.
The decision was made as a result of a lengthy discussion about recent party developments and the fact that the “NWC recognised the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive party in the overall interest of our teeming members and Nigerians in general,” according to the party’s national publicity secretary.
“Without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take necessary disciplinary action against any member of the Party at any time pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP,” Ologunagba said of the Damagum leadership’s decision (as amended in 2017).
“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, and teeming members of our Party across the country to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity and harmony in our Party at this critical time.
“The PDP must remain focused as we continue to take every necessary action to recover the stolen mandate freely given by Nigerians to our party and presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.”
