Most governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are reportedly pushing for the removal of the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, from his position, according to multiple sources close to the governors.
The governors, who include Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Sheriff Orohwedor (Delta), Douye Diri (Bayelsa); Kefas Agbu (Taraba); Amadu Fintri (Adamawa); Peter Mbah (Enugu); Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), believe that the party needs a fresh start from the top down.
“They are not interested in confirming Damagum as the PDP substantive National Chairman,” said a source who is a member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and close to some of the governors. “The governors have their plan and confirmed Damagum is not part of it.”
The source said that the governors are not happy with Damagum’s performance as acting National Chairman, and they believe that he is not the right person to lead the party into the future.
“The governors are not interested in enabling stakeholders to confirm Damagum as PDP National Chairman, they have their plans and they want him out to reposition the party from top to bottom,” the source said.
The source also explained why the NEC meeting has been delayed.
“During the last PDP governors’ forum meeting, the governors unanimously agreed that this is not the best time to hold a NEC meeting,” the source said. “They pointed out that holding the NEC meeting now will distract the party members from concentrating on the governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo. So they delayed it to enable party members to concentrate in these governorship elections.”
Another source, who is a high-ranking member of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), confirmed that the governors are not happy with Damagum and are looking to replace him.
“You can’t hold NEC meeting now when we are supposed to focus on how to win the governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa,” the source said.
The source also said that the governors have their own candidate in mind to replace Damagum, but he declined to name the person.
