The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Umar Damagum, has announced a meeting to resolve crisis in the Cross River State chapter of the party.
A circular of the meeting, on Saturday, stated that the meeting would resolve the suspension of the state’s party chairman, Barr. Venatius Ikem.
Damagum-led NWC had earlier rejected the suspension of Ikem by the State Executive Committee. The circular disclosed that the meeting will be held at National Executive Council (NEC) Hall, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja, on Thursday 12th December.
“Following the recent development in the Cross River State Chapter of our Party, where members of the State Executive Committee have reported to have suspended the State Chairman, the National Working Committee (NWC) of our Party; after deliberating on the situation, concluded to invite the Critical Stakeholders in Cross River State for an interactive/Fact-Finding meeting as follows:
“Date: Thursday, December 12, 2024. Venue: NEC Hall, Wadata Plaza, Abuja FCT. Time : 12noon.
“Please note that attendance is strictly by invitation as par the attached list“, it read.
Meanwhile, the former Chairman of PDP in Ebonyi State, Silas Onu, has accused Damagum of flouting court orders to destroy the party.
Onu accused Damagum of flouting a Federal High Court order that affirmed the suspension of Mr. Ali Odefa.
Odefa was suspended from the party on October 4, 2024, by the executive committee of the party at his Oguduokwor Ward, in Onicha local government area of Ebonyi State, for alleged anti-party activities.
On 29th November, Voice of Nigeria (VON) reported that the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi capital, restrained Odefa from parading as the Vice National Chairman (South East) of the part.
In his reaction on Friday, Onu said, “What is more bizarre about Damagun’s disobedience to Court order is that his acting Chairmanship is a product of obedience of Court Order when the National Legal Adviser properly and lawfully advised that the suspension of Ayu be enforced as affirmed by a Court. Sadly today, even as a Federal High Court affirmed the suspension of Mr. Ali Odefa, Damagun has continued to keep him as his loyal poppy in his sworn bid to bury the PDP.”