National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Damagum, former PDP National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus, ex-Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), as well as Senator Ben Obi, former PDP Women Leader Josephine Anenih, former Organising Secretary Senator Austin Akobundu, ex-Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan, and former Youth Leader Abdullahi Maibasira, among others at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday. Photo: Abdulrahman Zakariyau
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Damagum, has affirmed that the party remains united.
Damagum added that disciplinary action would be taken at the appropriate time against members working to undermine it.
He made this known during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, following a PDP National Working Committee meeting held to consolidate party unity after the reinstatement of Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
He stated, “To those that are contemplating, they should not, they have no place and there’s nowhere that will be as accommodating as our party. But if they feel there are, I will wish them good luck. But I know they will run back.
“I want to re-emphasise that if you are a member of the People’s Democratic Party, we are drawing a line for those who go to demarket the party. We are watching them and we will take appropriate actions at the right time.”
The PDP has faced internal crises since the 2023 presidential election, which worsened in 2024 due to disputes over the National Secretary position.
However, the matter was settled in Anyanwu’s favour during Monday’s 100th National Executive Committee meeting.
Despite the resolution, several members have defected to other parties, while others have pledged support for the newly unveiled coalition platform under the African Democratic Congress.
On April 15, the PDP governors, during a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, declared that the party would not be part of the coalition movement aiming to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Echoing this stance, the PDP National Working Committee, led by the acting National Chairman, emphasised that while the party is open to absorbing members from other political parties, it is not interested in forming any coalition.
However, in contrast to the official party position, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido, and other prominent PDP leaders urged party members and Nigerians to support the soon-to-be-launched coalition platform, the ADC.
This appeal was contained in a communiqué signed by David Mark after a PDP coalition meeting held on Tuesday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
Others present at the meeting included former PDP National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus, ex-Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), as well as Senator Ben Obi, former PDP Women Leader Josephine Anenih, former Organising Secretary Senator Austin Akobundu, ex-Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan, and former Youth Leader Abdullahi Maibasira, among others.
While some of these figures have already left the PDP, others expressed their willingness to collaborate with the ADC while still remaining in the party.
Atiku and his allies blamed the PDP leadership’s failure to uphold the party’s Constitution and internal regulations for the growing disorder and lack of discipline within the party.
In response, Damagum said the PDP has heard the cries of Nigerians and is prepared to rescue the country from the All Progressives Congress.
He stated, “We remain united despite all the challenges. We have sat down to discuss all thorny issues and trash it out today.
“To our members, I want to bring good tidings that your party is very, very intact. To APC, I want to send a message that you can continue to harass, harass, and buy our members. But the 2027 election is between Nigerians and you.
“Like I said earlier, we are not conquered. We are law-abiding citizens. We deserve to be heard. For democracy to thrive, people must use their minds. People should be listened to and policies, I mean policies, should be people-oriented.
“Our leaders have already come together to give us this leadership. This is what you can see in this NWC. And I keep reiterating this is the only party in the country that has lasted this long. We have mastered the art of conflict resolution. We know our problems and we solve them within ourselves.”
The Punch
