PDP Governors Explore Possible Soft Landing For Damagum Amidst Party Crisis – Source

Governors within Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are working behind the scenes to secure a smooth transition for National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, as he faces challenges within the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Naija News reports that this move comes after a recent truce was negotiated among feuding NWC members.

According to Vanguard, a source within the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), who wished to remain anonymous, said that PDP governors are now focused on ensuring stability within the leadership.

The source said, “Our governors are working seriously behind the scenes.

“After securing a ceasefire among feuding NWC members, they are now focused on ensuring our NEC meeting holds.

“As things stand, the NEC meeting earlier scheduled for October 24th, may not hold, to allow time to calm frayed nerves.

“Like the Chairman of the PDP-GF, Bala Mohammed, said consultations are ongoing.

“The Governors have reached out to all parties in the leadership tussle to cease fire and end the media war.

“They are also exploring how best to Damagum a soft landing for him to step down and revert to his original position as Deputy National Chairman (North).”

Party leaders are also considering appointing a new candidate from the North Central region to help steer the party toward stability until the next elective convention.

“We, by this, I mean major party stakeholders are also looking at the possibility of having a committed party man from the North Central to step in and stabilize our party before the next elective convention,” the source added.

Former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and Benue-born businessman Conrad Utaan have been engaging in meetings to promote themselves to party stakeholders.

Utaan, who shares a regional background with former National Chairman Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu, emphasized the need for fresh ideas and younger leadership to address the party’s challenges.

Meanwhile, former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, who was associated with the Yayari Mohammed-led NWC during the dispute, voiced the group’s support for the governors’ resolution.

“As party men, our governors as leaders have spoken, there is nothing more to add,” he noted.