The Coalition of North West State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Support Groups has expressed strong backing for the suspension of the party’s national chairman, Ambassador Illiya Damagum. The coalition also welcomed the recent Federal High Court ruling that halted the PDP’s planned national convention, describing it as a positive step towards restoring order and internal democracy within the party.
Addressing journalists in Kaduna, Dr. Haruna Muhammad Ismail Gumel, president general of the coalition, said the judgment delivered last Friday highlighted the ongoing leadership crisis in the PDP. He emphasized that the situation presents an opportunity for genuine reconciliation and party restructuring.
Dr. Gumel affirmed the coalition’s full support for the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) to suspend Damagum and five other senior party officials over alleged misconduct and failure to perform their duties. He alleged that the former chairman and his loyalists had deliberately caused internal conflicts, resulting in a breakdown of discipline within the party.
He said, “The judgment of the Federal High Court has once again proved that all is not well with our party and that urgent action is needed to save it. We commend members of the NWC who took the bold decision to suspend the National Chairman and five others who have failed to meet expectations.”
The coalition pledged its support for the newly appointed acting national chairman, Mr. Muhammad Abdulkadir, who previously served as the national vice chairman (North Central). They encouraged him to use his experience to promote fairness, reconciliation, and justice among party members.
Dr. Gumel also commended the national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the national organising secretary, Mr. Umar Muhammad Bature, for their efforts in safeguarding the party’s reputation. “The suspension of Mr. Damagum and five others is timely and commendable. Their exit has rekindled hope among our members and supporters across the country that the PDP is on the path to recovery,” he said.
The coalition recommended that the acting national chairman immediately establish a reconciliation committee to address grievances, review state-level congresses that were not conducted, and convene an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to tackle pressing issues arising from the court’s ruling.
They further urged the party to postpone preparations for the proposed Ibadan elective convention until all disputes are resolved to prevent further legal complications. The coalition also called for the PDP national chairman position to be zoned to the North West, allowing the region to nominate a competent and widely accepted candidate.
Finally, Dr. Gumel appealed to the party’s disciplinary committee to summon Damagum and the other suspended members for appropriate action. The press briefing was attended by several coalition leaders, including the group’s secretary, Barrister Ibrahim Hassan Jibia.