Anger in Fubara’s camp over arrest of loyalists in Abuja
The battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the pro-Atiku and pro-Wike camps may have just begun despite this week’s decision of the party’s National Executive Committee (NWC) to retain Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum as Acting National Chairman until at least August or September.
Although the party said the retention of Damagum was meant to enable it focus on reconciliation and peace building, party sources told kwamkwam NEWS in Abuja yesterday that the calculation of the two camps is who will be in charge of the conduct of the national convention of the party in the run-up to the 2027 elections.
While many observers are of the view that the Wike camp seemed to have triumphed at the NEC meeting, sources said yesterday that the next real test of strength between the two sides will come up over the next few months when the party is scheduled to conduct its congresses in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The leaders produced by the state congresses will constitute a significant chunk of delegates at the party’s national convention expected to take place towards the end of next year, along with other pre-2027 election primaries issues.
The affected states include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu and Gombe.
The rest are Imo, Jigawa, Niger, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and the FCT.
The constitution of caretaker committees for the party in some of the states is generating rancor, especially in Rivers State where Governor Siminalayi Fubara kicked over his state’s list.
He claimed the list was doctored to favour the Wike camp.
It was gathered that the Wike camp is desirous of keeping Damagum in office as Chairman beyond August and assume office as substantive national chairman.
But that depends largely on the outcome of the forthcoming ward,local government and state congresses.
The calculation in the Wike camp is that the battle for 2027 would have been partially won if it can get its supporters elected in the majority of the 19 states and the FCT.
Said one source yesterday: “The NEC communiqué states that Damagum will be controlling party affairs until at least August this year, and the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed, spoke of a likely review of demands for leadership change by another NEC meeting in September.
“But this matter is beyond that. The leadership change will be a North Central party member taking Damagum’s position of Deputy National Chairman (North) while Damagum becomes Chairman.
Part of what three PDP governors from the North East made clear during their closed door session is that the position of Deputy National Chairman (North) is not for the North Central to decide but for the entire northern caucus, and it’s likely to go to someone from Nasarawa State who is generally acceptable to all.
“I have been a member of NEC for years and sometimes, all that NEC does is to acknowledge or note some objections and carry on with its business.
“Besides, did we not tell you one week ago that the matter of Damagum’s position would not even be on the agenda of Thursday’s NEC meeting?”
The source, who requested anonymity because he was not mandated to speak on behalf of the group, said the idea of leadership change that would have got Damagum removed was a last minute move acked by intense mobilization efforts.
The objective was to prevent a situation where Damagum would supervise the conduct of the state congresses scheduled for August.
It was gathered that the decision to appoint former Chairman of the Kogi State chapter of PDP, Barrister Humphrey Abba, as Director-General of the PDP Governors Forum was to placate the North Central which has been vocal about replacing Damagum and serving out the term of ousted National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
It was also gathered that in the event that Damagum eventually becomes substantive national chairman of the party, a candidate from the North Central who is acceptable to the pro-Atiku and pro-Wike camps may be brought in as Deputy National Chairman after consultations with northern governors and some other party leaders from the North.
Emerging from the NEC meeting on Thursday, Damagum told reporters that he was not worried about the tension that preceded the deliberation
He said: “This was not a matter of life and death. I am still an elected member of this NEC. Even if I revert to the position of Deputy National Chairman, I’m still a member of PDP NWC. So, the issue of worrying over surviving or not does not arise.”
Anger in Fubara’s camp over arrest of pro-governor lawmaker, other loyalist in Abuja
Anger has enveloped the camp of the Rivers State Governor Fubara, following the alleged arrest of two of his loyalists, including a member of the State House of Assembly, during the just concluded meeting of PDP NEC.
It was gathered that the lawmaker representing Ahoada East Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Sokari Goodboy Sokari, and one Mr. Ezebunwo Ichemati were arrested by the police during the meeting.
A party leader and PDP Spokesman in Rivers, Sydney Tambari Gbara, who confirmed the development in a statement, accused the Ikwerre Local Government Chairman, Dr. Samuel Nwanosike of supervising the arrest.
Gbara, a loyalist of Fubara, claimed that the arrest was part of the plans by enemies of the state to intimidate Fubara’s loyalists and provoke a crisis despite efforts by Fubara to maintain peace in the state.
He said: “The arrest at the Wadata House where party men of timber and calibre from the PDP were meeting to forge unity in the rank and file of the party is another sad and embarrassing experience of unending acts of harassment suffered by PDP members loyal to Governor Fubara.
“It was unimaginable that associates and supporters of governors and leaders from other states were cheering their leaders as they arrived at the Wadata House unhindered, those from Rivers who came to identify with Governor Fubara were being harassed, intimidated, arrested and detained by the police without provocation.
“We have time without number advised the police to remain neutral and not allow themselves to be used by political jobbers to settle political scores, especially those concerning Rivers State.”
Gbara asked Rivers people, particularly supporters of Fubara, to remain strong and unwavering in their commitment to the success of his administration.
The governor’s supporters and constituents of the detained lawmaker under the auspices of the Simplified Movement of Ahoada West Local Government Area described the arrest of Sokari as unwarranted, embarrassing and a brute show of force.
The stakeholders in their position paper read in Port Harcourt on Friday by one of their leaders, Reason Onya, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call on the Inspector-General of Police to release the lawmaker from detention.
They said Sokari, one of the three lawmakers that opposed the impeachment of Fubara, had committed no crime to warrant his humiliation.
They appealed to the IGP to investigate the officers who carried out the humiliating and gestapo-like arrest of their representative with a view to sanctioning them in line with the police act.
They also urged the IGP to fish out the alleged civilians who aided the arrest, claiming that the Ikwerre Local Government Chairman was one of them.
The constituents warned that their representative in police custody should not suffer any harm or exposed to any form of danger similar to those detained during the despotic regimes that President Tinubu fought against.
However, the Ikwerre Local Government Area denied the involvement of Nwanosike in the ordeal of the two Fubara’s supporters.
Chris Omodu, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Nwanosike, said the chairman did not supervise the arrest of some Rivers youths “who were fomenting trouble at the PDP NEC’s meeting and were arrested by the police”.
Omodu said: “I want to put the record straight that the Executive Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Council, Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, is not a law enforcement officer that will supervise and arrest people. The persons arrested by the police know the offences committed by them”.
He insisted that Nwanosike had no hand in the arrest of some of the youths, whom he said were sponsored by some unscrupulous elements in the state to cause trouble at the meeting.
He said the youths, who claimed to be supporters of the governor, went to Abuja to disrupt the peace of PDP NEC meeting and to abuse the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike.
He said: “Mr. Tambari Sydney Gbara should not be taken seriously. He lacks the power to issue a statement on behalf of PDP in Rivers State because he is no longer the Publicity Secretary of Rivers State PDP.
“For the avoidance of doubt, NWC of PDP has released the list of state Caretaker Committee of Rivers State. He is seeking attention and more money from his paying machine.
“Sydney Gbara should save himself from cheap popularity.”
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