A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has appointed Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as its new Acting National Chairman amid the ongoing crisis in the party.

This decision comes after the faction suspended acting national chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum.

Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday restrained the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from removing Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of the party.

However, regardless of the court injunction, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, announced Mohammed’s appointment in a statement on Friday.

The statement reads, “Following the suspension of His Excellency, Amb. Illiya Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved the appointment of Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the Acting National Chairman.

“The appointment which takes immediate effect is pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017)

“The NWC calls on all Organs, leaders, critical stakeholder and members of our great Party to remain focused at this critical time especially as the NWC commences arrangements towards the holding of the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting already scheduled for Thursday, 24th October, 2024”.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has suspended the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, along with its 2019 Bayelsa governorship candidate, David Lyon, due to alleged anti-party activities.

Alongside Lokpobiri and Lyon, several prominent figures were also suspended, including Commissioner for Power Kharim Kumoko, Commissioner for Lands and Survey Peres Biewari, former APC state chairman Jothan Amos, NEC ex-officio member Godbless Diriwari, and Southern Ijaw APC Youth Leader Sabi Morgan.

These suspensions came after a disciplinary review by the party’s leadership in Bayelsa State.

During the announcement in Yenagoa, Mitin Eniekenemi Senator, the APC Chairman for Ekeremor Local Government Area, accused Lokpobiri of leading factions and collaborating with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following his unsuccessful bid for the APC governorship ticket in 2019.

He claimed that Lokpobiri and his supporters actively backed Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri and the PDP in the 2023 election, receiving appointments and contracts as rewards.

“In the 2023 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, he led a group of disgruntled party members to openly support and work for Gov. Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party and was compensated by the PDP-led government of Bayelsa State”, he said.

He continued, “His personal aide, Kharim Kumoko, was nominated by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and appointed as the current Commissioner for Power in Bayelsa State.

“It is on record that since the day he was appointed as minister, he has been fighting the party in Bayelsa State and has refused to make peace despite all entreaties.”

Similarly, the APC Southern Ijaw LGA leadership, led by Ebikazi Gbefa, announced the suspension of David Lyon and seven others for undermining APC’s National Assembly candidates and conspiring with the PDP in the 2023 governorship race.

Gbefa said “The same set of stakeholders and their supporters openly worked against our National Assembly candidates” pointing out that they also worked for Diri and the PDP in the 2023 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

“Some of them were compensated with contracts and appointments. For example, Perepuighe Biewari who was Chief David Lyon’s Personal Assistant, was nominated by Chief David Lyon and appointed as the current Commissioner for Lands and Survey in the Gov. Douye Diri administration in Bayelsa State.”

A former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State, Peter Babalola, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

This is as Babalola promised to leverage his political influence to strengthen the APC, particularly in the Irewole local government area and throughout the Osun West Senatorial district.

Speaking during his formal reception into the APC by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, in Ikire, Babalola vowed to secure total victory for the APC in the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

“I have instructed my supporters across all 30 local government areas and 332 wards in Osun State to register as APC members,” he said.

The former Osun Chief of Staff also warned the officials of the Ademola Adeleke administration against attempting to manipulate the system in favour of the PDP in the upcoming local government elections.

Babalola hinted that the national chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, would soon visit Osogbo to officially welcome him into the party.

Representing the Minister, the APC State Secretary, Alao Kamorudeen, expressed confidence that the party would achieve a landslide victory in the forthcoming local government elections, as well as in future national elections.

“Party members need to rally behind the leadership and support their candidates in ensuring comprehensive success in the elections.

“Be assured that the APC-led administration remains committed to providing strong leadership, particularly in rural areas. Our members should begin mobilising immediately,” he said.

He encouraged party members to return to their respective political wards to register and make their presence felt.

Senatorial leaders and party members from the 30 local government areas comprising Osun West Senatorial district were present to officially welcome Peter Babalola into the state APC fold.

Peter Babalola, former Chairman, Governing Council of the Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, DAILY POST recalled was suspended from the ward executives of the PDP in Irewole local government in August.

Prior to his suspension, Babalola also tendered his letter of resignation from the PDP.