Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives have accused the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, and the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, of conspiring to undermine the party by aiding defected former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in an alleged plot to impeach Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The allegations were made by the Opposition Coalition, with spokesperson Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member representing Ideato Federal Constituency, describing the situation as a deliberate effort by Damagum and Anyanwu to weaken the PDP from within. Ugochinyere claimed that the party leaders were opposing the efforts of the National Legal Adviser, Kalmadeen Ajibade, who had been working to neutralize the defected pro-Wike lawmakers.
According to Ugochinyere, the legal battle, identified as case PHC/2177/CS/2024, revolves around the defection of 27 PDP members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023. He noted that the Rivers State High Court had previously issued an ex parte order on July 8, 2024, restraining key state officials from interacting with the defected lawmakers.
The Opposition Coalition believes that the actions of the PDP’s leadership are part of a broader scheme to destabilize the party in Rivers State and potentially pave the way for the APC to gain political ground in the region.
Ugochinyere warned that if this alleged plot succeeds, it could lead to the erosion of internal democracy within the PDP, fragmentation of the party, loss of public trust, and significant legal and financial consequences. He called for urgent measures to reaffirm the authority of the National Legal Adviser, restrain the national chairman and secretary from further interference, and establish a disciplinary committee to investigate their actions.
“The PDP must stand united in the face of this betrayal. We urge all members of the PDP and concerned Nigerians to join us in defending the integrity of our party and ensuring that justice prevails,” Ugochinyere concluded.
