The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has warned party leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, that no candidate can win elections if the party is battered and injured due to personal ambition.
Damagum held party leaders accountable for the ongoing crisis within the nation’s main opposition party.
Damagum made these remarks at the party’s 79th Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.
While acknowledging that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) was experiencing some internal challenges, he stressed that the crisis was being driven by party leaders who were supposed to bring unity to the party.
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The acting chairman lamented that some members of the NWC were honouring invitations from party leaders without informing him, and he warned against letting individual political ambitions harm the party.
“You may have ambition, but you don’t ride on a dead horse to reach your destination,” Damagum warned. “If you create a crisis simply to further your ambition, you may get what you want, but your dream will not be realised because, by that time, you have injured the horse you are going to ride to that destination.”
He further urged party members to reflect on their actions, stating, “As the conscience of this party, some of us are also complicit. We should look inwards, search our conscience.”
Damagum called for unity within the PDP, reminding members that the party was vital to the hopes of Nigerians. He assured the BoT members that the NWC, under his leadership, would do everything in its power to hold the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting by February.
“We are also aware that the process for our zonal congresses has begun. Even with this, I urge our leaders to avoid actions that could disrupt these congresses,” Damagum added. “It’s very important to sound this note because, in whatever we do, it is the structure you are building to hold what you have in your hand.”
The acting chairman also highlighted recent congresses across 29 states, noting that while there had been issues in a few states, the party was moving in the right direction.
In his remarks, BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, expressed disappointment with the ongoing crises within the NWC, stating that it was disheartening that the internal conflicts had yet to be resolved. He emphasised that the failure to address these issues had weakened the party’s credibility and strength.
“It is, therefore, imperative for the NWC to rise above personal interests and place the survival and progress of our great party above all other considerations,” Wabara stated. He stressed the need for a NEC meeting to be held in February as scheduled.
Wabara also reminded PDP leaders of the importance of electing credible leaders during the zonal congresses, noting that these leaders would shape the party’s future.
“These leaders will serve as the face and voice of PDP, and it is essential that they possess the vision, integrity, and capacity to steer the affairs of the party effectively,” Wabara added. “Let us ensure that the processes are free, fair, and transparent, so that the outcome reflects the collective will of our members.”
The BoT chairman called for party members and leaders to set aside their personal differences and work together to strengthen the party, despite the challenges it faces.