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Acting Chairperson of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has reiterated the unity of the party and warned that disciplinary actions will be taken against members suspected of working to damage the party.
Damagum spoke at a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, after the National Work Committee (NWC) meeting to consolidate the internal cohesion of the party.
NWC on Monday returned Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the Party.
In his speech, Damagum noted that while some people had sought political alternatives outside the PDP, the party remained the most accommodating political platform in the country.
He said: “To those who are pondering [leaving]They should not. They have no place and there is no place that will be accommodating like our party.
“But if they feel there [another place]I hope they are lucky. But I know they will run back. “
He showed that the party monitored those involved in anti-party activities and would take the right action at the right time.
“We are drawing a line for those who go out to park the party. We are watching them, and we will take the right action,” Damagum said.
PDP has wrestled with internal tension since the end of the 2023 general election.
The crisis increased in 2024 due to leadership struggles around the National Secretary’s office.
The dispute was resolved for Anyanwu during the 1100th National Executive Committee meeting (NEC) which was held on Monday.
Apart from this development, some high profile defeats have shaken the party, while others in their ranks have voiced their support for the new opposition coalition platform that is fought under the Panji Congress of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
On April 15, the Governor of PDP, at a meeting in Ibadan, the state of Oyo, stated that the party would not participate in the coalition that emerged from the opposition forces aimed at challenging the decisions of all Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
Echoing that position, NWC PDP emphasized that although it remains open to welcoming new members, it does not try to join or enter the formal coalition.
However, leading party leaders including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, former Governor Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), have pushed behind him.
This divergence became public after a meeting at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday, where Atiku and other parties supported the coalition efforts and urged broader national support. A communication issued after the meeting, signed by David Mark, blamed the PDP internal instability about what they described as the current failure of leadership to uphold the constitution and party discipline.
Also present at the meeting was the former National Chairperson of PDP Prince Uche Secondus, former female leader Josephine Aneh, Senator Ben Obi, former Secretary of Organizing Senator Austin Akobundu, former youth leader Abdullahi Maibaira, former Secretary of Kola Oologbondiyan, and others. While some participants have officially left the PDP, others signal their willingness to collaborate with ADC while PDP members are permanent.
Responding to this development, Damagum said the party focused on preparation to reclaim the power of the APC in the next general election and was ready to respond to the hopes of the Nigerians.
“For our members, I bring good news, your party is very, very intact,” he said. “For APC, you can continue to harass and buy our members, but the 2027 selection is between you and Nigeria.”
He continued: “We are not conquered. We are a lawful citizen. We deserve to be heard. So that democracy develops, policies must be oriented towards people, and people must be heard.”
Damagum also emphasized the resilience and institutional experience of PDP in managing internal disputes, describing the party as a long -standing national political force with a deep understanding of conflict resolution.
“This is the only party in this country that has been going on so far,” he said. “We have mastered the art of conflict resolution. We know our problem, and we solve it internally.”
