Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has extended his congratulations to Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman on his emergence as the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urging him to make peace and reconciliation his immediate priorities.
Alhaji Abdulrahman, also known as the Sadaunan Takushara, assumed leadership following the suspension of the party’s chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.
His purported appointment comes at a turbulent time for the PDP, which has been struggling with internal wrangling and leadership disputes.
Reacting to the development, Fayose described Abdulrahman’s emergence as an opportunity for the opposition party to regain focus and restore confidence among its members nationwide.
“I congratulate the new chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman. I urge him to unite the party and restore confidence in its members,” Fayose said.
The former governor, known for his outspoken stance on party issues, emphasized that the PDP was at a critical crossroads and needed decisive leadership to steer it back to strength.
“There is no better time to give the PDP a new direction than now. The party must heal from within if it hopes to reclaim its place in Nigeria’s political landscape,” he added.
Fayose also called on the new chairman to address what he described as “injustices and irregularities” in certain state chapters, including Ekiti, in line with the party’s constitution and relevant court judgments.
He further advised Abdulrahman to work collaboratively with all stakeholders and ensure that a new National Working Committee (NWC) is elected through a valid national convention once all pending congresses at the state and zonal levels are properly concluded.
Earlier, the Peoples Democratic Party was plunged deeper into crisis as fresh divisions emerged within its leadership, with a faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announcing the suspension of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and five other members of the National Working Committee.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of the factional NWC, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, announced the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the Acting National Chairman.
He stated, “Unfortunately, some people may say that the National Secretary, National Organising Secretary who has the responsibility of monitoring everything and the National Legal Adviser, who is responsible for all legal issues, were purportedly suspended.
“On this note, we decided to suspend the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, for incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgment. He has been suspended for one month and should face the Disciplinary Committee.