The crisis rocking the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resurfaced following the latest court judgement affirming the Governor Similaye Fubara faction of the party’s Rivers State executive as authentic.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, yesterday issued a statement declaring the NWC’s acceptance of the court verdict, which affirmed the Ewor-led Rivers State Exco.

Ologunagba said, “The NWC acknowledges receipt, considered, and hereby accepts the judgment of the Rivers State High Court, which in Suit No. PHC/2301/CS/2024 nullified the Ward, Local Government, and State Congresses of our party in Rivers State conducted on July 27, August 10, and August 31, 2024, respectively.

“Consequently, in line with the judgement of the Court delivered on Monday, January 13, 2025, the NWC affirms the Hon. Nname Robinson Ewor-led Rivers State Executive to henceforth pilot the affairs of the PDP Rivers State Chapter in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).”

He went on to extend the NWC’s commendation to the court for reaffirming what he described as “the famed position of the PDP as the bastion of transparency in the due process of internal democracy and strict adherence to the Rule of Law and Party Guidelines in the conduct of Congresses and other activities.”

Barely 24 hours later, the PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, acting on the instructions of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, issued a disclaimer.

He noted that opinions expressed by Ologunagba in the said statement “were a figment of his imagination” and did not represent the position of the NWC.

Abdullahi said, “The NWC did not accept the judgment in River State, recognising the EWO-led ex-co. That’s not true. The NWC has not sat since September last year. This is subject to your verification.

“And so I wonder where he will now say the NWC sat and adopted wholly, or accepted the verdict, recognising the EWO-led state ex-co in River State.
“Not only that, only recently, he spoke about the judgment in Imo State, wherein a court, you know, they affirmed the expulsion of Imo Ugochinyere from the PDP.

“Even before the normal processes were adhered to, which is that the information from the ward where he was expelled or suspended was transmitted to the LG, the local court, and then to the NWC.

“Even before this was done, Debo went to the press by issuing a statement that Ugotinyari was not expelled.

“A national publiccity secretary does not enjoy such powers. He cannot speak for the NWC without clearance with the NWC.

“That is not the position of law. That is not expected of him as a lawyer to do. So we have now come to a level where the sentiment that he has allowed to becloud his reasoning is beginning to take a toll on his job.”

Ibrahim explained that unlike Ologunagba, his statements and press conference are always guided by instructions of the party leadership under the leadership of Amb. Damagum.

He said, “Debo will never tell you I was directed to do so. He would use his whims and caprice. And you are not at liberty to use your discretion when speaking for a party. Where there are constituted authority.”