Support Damagum or leave party, elected PDP deputies tell opponents

Elected deputies of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have voiced their support for the party’s acting national chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, asserting that he will remain in office until December 2025.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Deputy National Youth Leader, Comrade Timothy Osadolor, criticized calls for Damagum’s removal, urging dissenting voices to accept his leadership or leave the party.

Osadolor, joined by four other deputies, emphasized the need for unity within the PDP, stating that internal pride and blame games have contributed to the party’s current challenges.

“It is time for leaders to set aside personal interests and acknowledge their roles in the party’s predicament. Only by working together can the PDP reclaim its glory,” Osadolor remarked.

He said, “From 2013 to date, personal ambitions have driven us to heights of pure mischief and arrogant use of power.

“This has led to agreements not being kept and the ambiguities in our Constitution being exploited by those in position, even through the courts.

“We are all complicit by being perpetrators, supporters, or silent. No one is coming to save us; we must stand up and become heroes; we brought ourselves here.

“This is no longer the time for a blame game; all have sinned. From the BOT chairman, who endorsed an opposition governor, to candidates that negotiated and supported other party candidates in promises to get their return support, to NWC members and leaders that lost their polling units.

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“We must all come down from our high horses, forget pride for now, and join hands with the party as led by Amb. Illya Damagum to reposition this party back to winning ways.

“Court distractions and media demarketing of the PDP must stop forthwith. You do not need to like the officers, but the party is more important.

“If you want to resign and go, be a proper opposition; do not be here and go from TV house to radio house abusing the party

“The case of the acting national chairman is settled till December 2025, and on that of the National Secretary, we wait on the courts. Let’s learn to love and support PDP first and always.”

Osadolor maintained that the PDP is not only dealing with the tyranny of the All Progressives Congress-led federal government against the party and Nigerians but that it is equally dealing with the disillusionment of members across the country and beyond.

He listed some of the reasons for this situation to include distrust, insincerity, lack of firm enforcement of agreements, self-serving interests, and unnecessary eye service that is laced with smooth tongues.

Osadolor further chided unnamed party leaders whom he accused of lurking behind the scenes to cause misunderstanding within the party.

“This behaviour is apparently self-serving on their part, as it is not in the interest of the PDP in any way. It is ethically and morally wrong for members of the party to move around creating confusion instead of exploring our internal mechanism for peace,” he added.

Present at the briefing were Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor, Deputy National Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi, Deputy National Financial Secretary Ndubisi Eneh, and National Deputy Organising Secretary Pascal Adigwe.

Support Damagum or leave party, elected PDP deputies tell opponents

Senator Ned Nwoko explains decision to leave PDP for APC

The lawmaker representing Delta North, Senator Ned Nwoko, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The disclosure was made by his media aide, Ms. Gloria Okolugbo.

According to the aide, the senator’s decision was due to the frustration he faced from the PDP leadership in Delta State.

Okolugbo revealed that Senator Nwoko had not received the necessary cooperation and support from his party to fulfil his campaign promises to the people of Delta North.

She said: “Senator Nwoko came prepared to serve and deliver the dividends of good governance to Anioma people, but regrettably, he had not enjoyed the cooperation and support of his party, the PDP, in pursuit of his vision, even as the only PDP senator in Delta State.”

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She added: “What I can tell you is that today Senator Ned Nwoko held a consultative meeting with his constituents to inform them of his interest to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party…”

“With the concluded arrangements by the senator representing Delta North’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling APC will now have all the three (Delta State) senators in its fold.

“There have been a lot of processes that he has gone through trying to speak to the internal party structures to see that the issues that we have in Delta North are resolved. As it is now, Delta PDP has lost all three senators to the ruling APC, a development that could spell doom for the PDP in Delta State.

“One of the key reasons for which a legislator or a serving member can defect is factionalisation. You don’t have to see violence before you know there’s factionalisation in the party.

“And as we move ahead, it’s very important for us to strengthen the democratic institutions. Representative democracy is actually about balance of power, transparency in governance and accountable use of resources.

“So, it took a lot of groundwork and a lot of service to the people before we got PDP to become the predominant party of Delta State that delivered the last set of votes.

“Distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko was on the field even after he had won his elections, promising the electorate that together they would deliver the dividends of god governance, because this is about representative democracy.”

Senator Ned Nwoko explains decision to leave PDP for APC

Rivers: PDP restores Fubara-backed exco after court nullifies Wike-won congresses

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has acknowledged and accepted the judgment of the Rivers State High Court, which nullified the party’s Ward, Local Government, and State Congresses conducted on July 27, August 10, and August 31, 2024, respectively.

In compliance with the court’s decision delivered on Monday, January 13, 2025, the NWC has reinstated the Hon. Nname Robinson Ewor-led Rivers State Executive to oversee the affairs of the PDP in the state, under the party’s constitution.

The NWC commended the court’s decision, emphasizing the PDP’s commitment to transparency, internal democracy, and adherence to the rule of law in its operations.

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