The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing deepening internal turmoil after its National Working Committee (NWC) announced the suspension of four key officials.
The suspended memebers are Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary, Kamaldeen Ajibade, the National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha, the Deputy Legal Adviser, and Umaru Bature, the National Organising Secretary.
The suspension, which is for an initial period of one month, was disclosed by PDP Spokesperson Debo Ologunagba at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, following an emergency NWC meeting.
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The suspended officials have been referred to the party’s Disciplinary Committee.
Ologunagba stated that during this suspension period, the officials are barred from performing their duties.
Setonji Koshoedo, the Deputy National Secretary, will assume the role of Acting National Secretary, while the Deputy Legal Adviser will step in for Ajibade.
The decision comes at a critical time as the PDP attempts to manage multiple crises ahead of its scheduled National Convention on November 15 and 16.
The series of developments includes several legal and internal disputes within the party.
On Friday, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, barred the PDP from holding its proposed national convention.
The court ruled that the party failed to conduct valid state congresses as required by its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and INEC guidelines.
Justice Omotosho advised the PDP to rectify these “infractions” and restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising any outcome of the proposed event until all statutory requirements were met.
Earlier, on October 14, a legal representation clash occurred between National Chairman Umar Damagum and the suspended Legal Adviser, Ajibade, over who had the constitutional authority to appoint lawyers for the party.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chris Uche announced that he was representing the PDP based on a letter from Damagum, only for Ajibade to immediately assert his own authority, insisting that the power rested solely with his office.
The confusion prompted the judge to suspend proceedings until the party resolved its internal representation dispute.
In a separate issue, the suspended Anyanwu, an ally of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike— accused the PDP leadership of forging his signature on official correspondence sent to INEC concerning the planned convention.
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The PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), Board of Trustees (BoT), and several party officials strongly denied the allegation.
The multiple crises signal a profound internal struggle within Nigeria’s main opposition party.
