Leadership Crisis in the PDP
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has issued a warning to those he believes are being used by the devil to undermine the party. His remarks were made during a gathering of the Forum of State PDP Chairmen in Abuja, where they pledged their support for his leadership.
During the event, Damagum addressed the State Chairmen, stating, “I want to use this opportunity to call on our colleagues that the devil is using, to see wisdom in casting the devil in them because treachery, especially to an institution that has made you what you are today, will not heal.”
He continued, “You may be lucky now, but there is the law of karma. What goes around comes around. I think it is not too late to see the need to do justice to this party that has given you all. Sometimes, when I resort to the ways of God, people think it is a weakness.”
Damagum emphasized that the party’s existence is tied to divine will, saying, “We exist because God exists. We owe everything that we do to Him. He is watching us. He will judge us by our behaviour. I will leave this on this note. They say a word is enough for the wise.”
The PDP’s Resilience
Damagum dismissed claims that the PDP is struggling, asserting, “People are saying the PDP is dead. Today, in Nigeria, the story is about the PDP. You don’t tell a story of something that does not exist. This is an attestation that the PDP is alive.”
He added, “The PDP is ready. The PDP is a vehicle that knows how to navigate the challenges within our fold and also solve the challenges that are bedevilling us in this country.”
In addition, he called on all citizens to recognize their rights, stating, “Every citizen of this country has a right to be. Every citizen of this country has a right to aspire, has a right to explore whatever way he feels he wants to exercise his right. To those who think humiliation, intimidation, and harassment will deter citizens, they are just jesters.”
Support from State Chairmen
Earlier, 29 State PDP Chairmen issued a communiqué pledging their total support for Damagum’s leadership. Signed by the Chairman of the Forum, Tony Aziegbemi, and the Secretary, Edward Marsha, the document praised Justice Akintola for his courage in enabling the party to proceed with its planned convention.
The communiqué urged delegates to prepare for the convention and elect credible, competent, and loyal members into the National Working Committee. It also commended the leadership of the National Working Committee under Ambassador Umar Damagum, the PDP Governors’ Forum under Senator Bala Mohammed, and the Board of Trustees (BOT) under Senator Adolphus Wabara.
Call for Discipline
The Forum emphasized the importance of discipline within the party, urging state chapters to invoke the provisions of the PDP Constitution to discipline erring members whose actions threaten unity and the collective interest of the party.
Ongoing Leadership Struggle
The crisis within the party intensified after the suspension of three National Working Committee members—Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature, and Kamaldeen Ajibade—for alleged anti-party activities. These members, supported by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, responded by suspending Damagum and other working committee members.
Abdulrahman Mohammed, the Deputy National Chairman (North Central), was announced as the new Acting National Chairman by the Wike faction. On Monday, Mohammed, accompanied by a team of policemen, took over the party’s secretariat and encouraged members to unite under his leadership.
Both factions are vying for control of the party. While Damagum and his group rely on the court order from Justice Ladiran Akintola to hold the November 15 and 16 convention in Ibadan, Mohammed’s group has appealed the judgment, insisting the convention will not take place.