Heavy security presence was observed on Monday at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja as Abdulrahman Mohammed, former Vice Chairman of the party in the North Central zone, assumed office as acting national chairman.
Mohammed’s assumption of office follows his declaration as acting chairman by the Samuel Anyanwu-led National Working Committee (NWC) after the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.
Before arriving at the PDP secretariat, Mohammed and his supporters had gathered at the party’s FCT office, where he addressed members and confirmed his readiness to take over as acting chairman.
The development deepens the leadership crisis rocking the opposition party. Over the weekend, Damagum and members of the NWC loyal to him announced the suspension of the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, and other officials.
In a swift response, Anyanwu led a faction of the NWC that countered by suspending Damagum, Ologunagba, and four other principal officers, escalating the division within the PDP.
When Mohammed resumed at the party’s national secretariat on Monday, Damagum and his loyalists were notably absent. Addressing journalists at the headquarters, Mohammed pledged to uphold the party’s constitution and restore internal unity amid the ongoing crisis.
