THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened to arrest anyone claiming to be its acting national president other than Umar Damagun.

The party’s Deputy National Secretary, Ibrahim Mangu, made the threat at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.

The threat comes in the middle reports that an interim party president, Yayari Mohammed, would take office despite a court order barring the party from removing Mr. Damagun from office.

The crisis erupted within the opposition party on Thursday when the National Working Committee (NWC) suspended Debo Ologunagba, the national publicity secretary, and Kamaldeen Ajibade, the national legal adviser.

However, on Friday, Mr. Ologunagba in turn announced the suspension of Mr. Damagun and the national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, thus splitting the NWC, responsible for the day-to-day administration of the party, into two.

Mr Ologunagba, apparently enjoying the support of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, then announced that Mr Mohammed would be acting national president.

The same day, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order that Mr. Damagum should be recognized as the national chairman of the PDP until the party’s national convention, scheduled for December 2025.

During the press conference, Mr. Manga, whom the Damagun group appointed as party spokesperson, said the group would deploy security personnel to arrest any party member violating the court order.

“We are forced to express our deep disgust and disappointment at our colleagues’ use of ‘fleeting’ and a simple suspension intended to give them the opportunity to clear themselves of certain allegations made against them. Although we know the drummers in detail, the masqueraders should have been guided in their dance steps to avoid taking their clothes off on stage.

“In the face of this reckless violation of an existing court order, we have no choice but to deploy the services of security agencies to uphold the rule of law,” he said.

Mr. Manga welcomed the intervention of the party board, the Governors’ Forum and other party leaders in the crisis shaking the party.

“To this end, I would like to most respectfully welcome the intervention of the BoT Chairman, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and other well-meaning leaders of the party on the need to seek a most amicable solution quickly possible,” he said.

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He urged party members to remain focused and support the leadership of Mr. Damagun, who is said to have the support of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike,

“In conclusion, we request all members of our party to remain focused and continue to support the leadership of the PDP under the leadership of the Acting National Chairman, HE Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, until we achieve a lasting solution to our problems,” the spokesperson said.