The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has cautioned members of the party against acts of betrayal, urging them to remain loyal and committed to the unity of the party.
Damagum made this known on Thursday in Abuja during a meeting with the Forum of State PDP Chairmen, who visited him to show support for his leadership amid the ongoing leadership tussle within the party.
He warned party members allegedly working against the interest of the PDP to reconsider their actions, noting that disloyalty to the platform that brought them to prominence would have lasting consequences. He said that the party remains strong and active despite internal challenges and speculations that it is losing ground.
According to him, the PDP continues to attract attention across the country because it remains relevant in national politics and capable of addressing Nigeria’s current challenges. He urged members to uphold unity, peace, and discipline as the party prepares for its upcoming convention.
During the meeting, 29 state PDP chairmen reaffirmed their support for Damagum’s leadership through a communiqué signed by the Forum Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, and Secretary, Edward Marsha. They praised the leadership synergy between the National Working Committee, the PDP Governors’ Forum, and the Board of Trustees, describing it as a driving force in stabilising the party.
The forum also urged delegates to begin preparations for the party’s national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. They called on members to elect credible and loyal individuals into the National Working Committee to strengthen the party’s foundation.
Additionally, the state chairmen encouraged disciplinary actions against members whose conduct undermines the unity of the party, stressing that discipline is necessary for peace and stability within the PDP.
The party has been engulfed in crisis following the suspension of three National Working Committee members — Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature, and Kamaldeen Ajibade — over alleged anti-party activities. The suspended members, who have the backing of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, later announced the suspension of Damagum and other executives.
The Wike faction also declared the Deputy National Chairman (North Central), Abdulrahman Mohammed, as the new acting chairman. Mohammed, supported by police officers, reportedly took over the party’s national secretariat earlier in the week, insisting that the faction led by Damagum lacks legitimacy.
However, Damagum’s camp maintains that his leadership is backed by a court order from Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, which gives his group the authority to organise the national convention. The opposing faction has appealed the ruling, insisting that the convention will not hold.
The leadership dispute continues to deepen divisions within the PDP as both camps claim control of the party’s structure and direction.