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Enioluwa Adeniyi
Guest
Indications have emerged that the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, is set to be offered the opportunity to step down from his position next week.
This decision was reached during a meeting of the party’s governors held on Tuesday in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Sources familiar with the discussions revealed to Daily Trust that the governors, concerned about the factionalisation within the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), are united in their resolve to preserve the integrity of the PDP.
The meeting convened just before the official flag-off of the PDP governorship campaign rally in Ondo State, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
It was agreed that Damagum would retain his position as acting national chairman until the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for October 24.
Both Damagum and Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, the PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), were present at the meeting, along with prominent party figures including Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, as well as governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).
The discussions at the meeting followed a virtual gathering earlier on Monday, during which Governor Adeleke expressed his disappointment over the ongoing crisis and its implications for his bid for a second term in 2026.
He voiced concerns about the negative impact of the factionalisation on the party’s unity.
Adeleke reportedly challenged Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State for not supporting the North-Central’s bid to retain the chairmanship position, given that he is also a first-term governor from the zone.
In response, Mutfwang indicated a shift in his stance, expressing support for a chairman from the North-Central to follow the party’s constitution in resolving the ongoing impasse.
Initially, Mutfwang, along with governors Makinde, Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba), had opposed Damagum’s removal.
However, Makinde, believed to lead the quartet, suggested during the virtual meeting that if Damagum were to step down, he should be afforded a soft landing.
At the Tuesday meeting, it was agreed that while Damagum would continue as acting chairman for a few more days, the NEC meeting would be utilized to ratify the North-Central’s nomination for the position and discuss potential dates for a national convention.
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