Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has declared that the problems of the party are self-made.
Damagum appealed to those who recently left the party to come back, or exit quietly without trying to de-market PDP.
The PDP national chairman spoke at a meeting summoned by the party’s founding fathers and stakeholders.
He told the defectors to be precise on their choice of party, saying, “It is either you are a PDP member or not, as you cannot belong to two political parties at a time.”
Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, also warned that the party will no longer tolerate indiscipline.
Mohammed said the defections were mostly instigated by the ambitions of some individuals.
Former President of the Senate, Dr. BukolaSaraki, stated that PDP will not die, as every problem has a solution.
Saraki said every politics was local, as the challenges were merely at the national level, insisting that PDP is strong at the states and local government levels.
On his part, former presidential hopeful, GbengaOlawepo-Hashim, said PDP was poised for a national comeback, asserting, “The PDP will rise again.”
Damagum, while addressing stakeholders, said, ‘’But we must also confront the hard truth, much of the injury the PDP has suffered has been self-inflicted. From the Obasanjo era to this moment, we have too often jettisoned ideology in favour of personal ambition.
“This has cost us dearly. Yet, there is still a beauty that exists only in the PDP; our founding vision, our commitment to internal democracy, our enduring mechanisms for dialogue and reconciliation, and our true national outlook.
“These are not ordinary attributes. They are the very pillars that made and have sustained the PDP as the bedrock of Nigeria’s democratic journey, and they remain our guiding strength today.
‘’However, let it be said and known that our doors remain open to those who wish to return, and it is my earnest prayers that in their return, they may rediscover themselves. After all, we are still the party that gave many their first political home.
‘’Again we must not lose sight of the bigger picture. The Peoples Democratic Party was never conceived as a mere vehicle for political ambition; it was born out of a national crisis of conscience.”
Damagum explained, “When the late Chief Bola Ige famously described Nigeria’s political parties as ‘five fingers of a leprous hand’, it was a damning indictment of their indistinguishable emptiness.
“The PDP then emerged to offer the nation a credible alternative rooted in principle, moral and ideological clarity, and broad-based national consensus. And, indeed, at that critical moment in our history, the PDP rescued Nigeria from a bleak fate.
“Today, again, Nigeria is in dire need of direction. Our democratic values are under strain, the cost of living crushes our people, the younger generation is losing faith in leadership and the economy continues to suffer in depressing stagnancy. In this moment, as in times past, the PDP must rise as a vessel of real hope and a voice of reason.
“This conference is, therefore, not a formality but a strategic reckoning. It allows us to realign with our core values of discipline, loyalty, inclusive governance, and policy-driven leadership. We have spent too much time trying to reconcile. Now, we must truly do it; and move forward.”
The PDP national chairman stated, “To our members, remain resilient, our past has proven that self-inflicted wounds can be healed. If we return to our core, and rise above personal interest, there remains a bright and redemptive future for the PDP, and for Nigeria.
‘’The PDP was not born out of convenience. It was born out of necessity to dismantle authoritarianism and restore democratic governance.
“Since our historic founding in August 1998, the PDP’s journey has been marked by triumphs and trials. Like any living institution, we have faced internal rifts, betrayals, and moments of national disappointment.”
Damagum said, “In 2013, we witnessed one of such fractures that shook us to our very core. A group of party leaders walked away from our party, seeking new alliances. Today, we witness yet another.
“But history reminds us that splinters may form, but they do not define the tree. Movements built on political expediency, collapse when confronted by lasting values. As a party, we do not respond to these challenges with bitterness, though they are often unpleasant.
“Instead, we rest in the assurance that the People’s Democratic Party remains the only political platform in Nigeria whose foundation was built on national consensus, democratic inclusion, and a clear vision for Nigeria’s future; to return power to the people.”
