The crack throughout the Nationwide Working Committee (NWC) resurfaced once more because the Ambassador Illiya Damagum-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stated the NWC was but to recognise the Hon. Nname Robinson Ewor-led government in Rivers State.
It added that the get together management had not met over the Rivers State Excessive Court docket judgement which sacked the previous get together government within the state.
The declaration contradicted the place of his boss, nationwide publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who, on Thursday, stated the get together, upon receipt of the court docket judgement which stopped the Aaron Chukwuemeka-led exco, now recognises the Hon. Nname Robinson Ewor-led get together government within the state.
Addressing a press convention in Abuja yesterday, the deputy nationwide publicity secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, who stated the get together’s NWC was but to convene on the matter, accused Ologunagba of appearing in private curiosity.
Whereas the Chukwuemeka-led exco is loyal to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whereas the Ewor-led exco is loyal to the State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Recall that on January 13, 2025, the Rivers State Excessive Court docket issued a restraining order stopping the manager committees led by Chukwuemeka from functioning.
The court docket additionally granted an injunction prohibiting these executives from serving as PDP officers within the state.
Responding to the judgement, Ologunagba, in a press release on Thursday, stated the PDP had accepted the court docket ruling. He additional introduced the get together’s recognition of the Ewor-led exco as respectable. The divergent place by the NWC members mirrored the crack that got here to the fore final yr which resulted in a faction throughout the get together hierarchy over the tussle for management of Rivers State PDP.
Whereas Damagum, Abdullahi and the embattled nationwide secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu had been on one aspect, Ologunagba, the nationwide authorized adviser and nationwide treasurer had been in one other camp.
Nevertheless, reacting yesterday to Ologunagba’s assertion, Abdullahi faulted his boss, noting that the NWC had neither met nor accepted the court docket’s judgment on the Rivers State Congresses.
Abdullahi stated, “Within the method that my colleague, Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, has been appearing currently, it’s turning into evident that the get together is uncomfortable with a few of his current tendencies.
“He seems to have been talking from either side of his mouth. Simply yesterday, below the directive of the Nationwide Chairman, I issued a disclaimer relating to his assertion that the NWC had met and accepted the judgment on Rivers State Congresses.
“The NWC didn’t settle for the judgment recognising the Ewor-led government. That’s false. The NWC has not convened since September final yr. That is verifiable. So, I ponder how he can declare the NWC met and adopted the decision.”
Abdullahi additionally tackled Ologunagba for making comparable unauthorised statements relating to judgments in Imo and Ebonyi States.
He stated a celebration’s spokesman doesn’t have the authority to talk for the NWC with out prior approval.
Abdullahi added, “A Nationwide Publicity Secretary doesn’t possess the authority to behave independently. He can’t communicate on behalf of the NWC with out clearance. His current actions have demonstrated an absence of adherence to protocol, which isn’t anticipated of him as a lawyer.
“We’re witnessing a scenario the place private sentiment has clouded his reasoning and is taking a toll on his job. The NWC should deliberate and the Chairman should give directives earlier than any statements are made.”
Nevertheless a celebration supply advised LEADERSHIP Weekend that opposite to Abdullahi’s disclaimer on the judgement, the get together acquired the licensed true copy of the judgement on Thursday, by means of the workplace of the nationwide authorized adviser.
The supply added that it was flawed for the deputy spokesman to insinuate that the get together has not acquired a doc that’s binding on it.
