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Embattled PDP National Chairman, Amb Umar Damagum
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), are currently seeking a soft landing for the embattled National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, Vanguard has learnt.
This followed a truce they brokered between feuding members of the National Working Committee, (NWC), on Tuesday.
A high-ranking member of the party?s National Executive Committee, NEC, who spoke on the issue, on condition of anonymity; for fear of retribution, 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).
?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.?
However, subtle campaigns among possible contenders for the job have begun.
Former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, and a Benue State-born businessman, Conrad Utaan, have been holding meetings to market themselves to stakeholders.
Utaan, who hails from the same Senatorial District as former National Chairman, Dr Iyiorchia Ayu, said in an interview that at this point in the life of the PDP, the party requires youthful energy and new thinking to break free from failures of the past.
Meanwhile, a former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, who was aligned to the Yayari Mohammed-led NWC during the dispute said the group aligns itself with the decision of the party governors.
He said, ?As party men, our governors as leaders have spoken, there is nothing more to add.? (Vanguard)