Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has descended into another round of internal turmoil following the suspension of four top officials including its National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN).

The suspensions were announced on Saturday after an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) held at the party’s Legacy House headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.

According to the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the decision was made in line with the party’s constitution, and the affected officers had been referred to the PDP Disciplinary Committee for further action.
Also suspended were the Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha, and National Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature.

The meeting further resolved to appoint Mohammed Abdulrahman, National Vice-Chairman (North Central), as the Acting National Chairman.

The decision, however, came barely a day after a Federal High Court halted the party’s planned national convention, deepening the PDP’s ongoing leadership and legal battles.

In a dramatic twist, a rival faction within the party swiftly rejected the suspensions, announcing a counteraction of its own.

At a separate briefing, Senator Anyanwu declared the suspension of Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum and several NWC members, while naming Abdulrahman as the new Acting National Chairman.
He also announced that the Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, would temporarily handle the party’s communications.

Anyanwu claimed that National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade had joined their meeting virtually from Canada and endorsed the decisions.

The renewed power tussle, coming less than 24 hours after the court ruling that stopped the PDP convention scheduled for November 15, has thrown the party into deeper uncertainty as rival factions battle for control of its leadership.