Adamawa PDP Backs Embattled Acting National Chairman Damagum Amid Leadership Controversy, Rejects Edo Governorship Election Results

The Adamawa State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially declared support for the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, to complete the tenure of the ousted chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

This comes as the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, an Adamawa-born politician, is said to have thrown his weight behind the plot to unseat the acting National Chairman, Damagum.

According to reports, Atiku reached out to some members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) seeking to send Damagum parking.

An NWC member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the former vice president had reached out to some of the anti-Damagum forces and other party stakeholders.

He said, “We are not alone; important leaders in the party, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have spoken with some of us.”

The move to remove Damagum has divided the 13 PDP state governors with Bauchi governor, Bala Mohammed, leading a group of eight who are pushing for Damagum’s ouster. While Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde is leading another group of five pro-Damagum governors.

Notably, the pro-Damagum governors are allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who is believed to have worked against Atiku’s presidential bid in 2023.

Wike led five PDP governors to oppose Atiku’s presidential bid.

At a press briefing on Tuesday in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, the state chairman of PDP, Tahir Shehu said, “The constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party is clear on the position of existing vacancy.

“Section 47 (6) states thus: where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the Executive Committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from to serve out the tenure of the officer.

“The former National Chairman is from the Northern zone, therefore, Sen. Umar Iliya Damagum, the Deputy National Chairman (Northern zone) is most qualified to serve out the tenure of the former National Chairman.”

“We therefore, support the position of our governor, Rt Hon Ahamadu Umaru Fintiri and other governors who reiterated that Sen. Umar Iliya Damagum should serve out the tenure of the erstwhile Chairman which is in line with the Supreme Court judgement,” Shehu averred.

The Adamawa PDP also rejected the outcome of the recent Edo State governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the election.

However, the Adamawa State chapter of the PDP vowed to support the legal battle until “the party’s broad daylight robbery of mandate is recovered”.