Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has backed the suspension of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Umar Damagun.
Gatekeepers News reports that Fayose said Damagun’s removal from office is inevitable and will follow the same path as former chairman Iyorchia Ayu’s downfall.
Fayose, speaking in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, accused Damagun of lacking the competence and credibility to lead the opposition party, alleging that he manipulated his way into the chairmanship position.
Fayose said, “You will recall this is the same way the Ayu crisis started, and this former chairman, Damagun, will go the way of Ayu, I can assure you. His last service to the party was before the suspension. He is not going to return to that office as chairman. In the first place, he was not supposed to be the chairman.”
His statement came after the faction loyal to Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and led by National Secretary Sam Anyanwu, announced the suspension of Damagun and five other National Working Committee members.
Fayose congratulated the newly announced acting chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdurrahman, saying his emergence followed due process and was a step toward restoring order in the party.
He said, “We are happy we have a new acting national chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdurrahman, who emerged yesterday as a result of the confidence reposed in him after the suspension of the former chairman.”
The ex-Governor accused Damagun of creating division within the PDP and hindering progress. He urged Abdurrahman to unify the party, correct past mistakes, and prepare for the next convention.
He added, “Damagun only represented an interregnum but manipulated the process to become the chairman and caused so much confusion. Therefore, we want to appeal to the new acting chairman, assuring him of the cooperation of all party members.”
Fayose also commented on the lingering crisis within the South West PDP, accusing some leaders of violating the party’s constitution by obstructing congresses.
He said, “They are not obeying their own constitution. They are not following due process. Like in the South West, somebody wants to control all the state chapters without allowing the congresses to hold, and you are saying you are looking for peace.”
Fayose reaffirmed his confidence that Abdurrahman’s position would be upheld by the courts, stating that the party needs a leader who can reunite everybody at this time.
