Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers have raised the alarm over alleged plot by some governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and members of the National Working Committee (NWC), to keep the acting national chairman, Umar Damagun, in office till 2027 in order to weaken the party.
The group stated this on Sunday evening during a world press conference held in Akokwa, Imo state.
According to the group’s spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, some prominent members of the party have planted 24 PDP state chairmen that will endorse President Bola Tinubu before 2027 and keep Damagun in office as national chairman till after the elections.
Describing them as impostors, he vowed that their plan won’t work as structures were being put in place to ensure it doesn’t happen.
“Today our nation is facing different challenges both economic, political. But there’s something that’s missing in all these problems and that’s a vibrant and responsive and responsible opposition. Today, we have a political party People Democratic Party, PDP that’s supposed to lead the opposition, but what do you have? But we have political charlatans hijacking the heartbeat of the opposition party and turning it to an errand platform for the ruling party.
“Some of you called me yesterday when the meeting the Governors had in Jos and said it’s all over for PDP. It’s very shameful that a party that was founded in 1998 by the great efforts of our founding fathers. The likes of Alex Ekwueme, Jerry Gana, Atiku Abubakar, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and so many others came together and ended 16 years of military rule.
“That political party is what these guys are playing akara with. It’s what imposters called Umar Damagun and Samuel Anyanwu is now messing up with and forgetting the sacred expectation of Nigerian people. A vibrant opposition.
“Today I want to inform the whole Nigeria that they have perfected a plan to ensure that the NEC meeting to choose a chairman from North Central where the position is originally supposed to come from is not possible. They want Umar Damagun, an impostor of the highest order to continue to parade as the National Chairman and stay in office till 2027 so they can foist on us a weakling that will be presidential candidate.
“We have impostors among us, who have no honour and decency. They have decided to see the political party, the ruling party will be laughing at them now that they want to sabotage their own party.
“First, they said there was Sallah holiday and they shifted it, since last year they kept on shifting the NEC meeting. Till now no NEC meeting, they kept giving different excuses. The national leaders of PDP are frolicking with APC leaders, going to London, having meetings with APC leadership.
“If the founding fathers of this party are still alive and are seeing what I’m seeing, they will be crying. I will mention the names of these PDP governors frolicking with APC. They think that by being a weakling, some of them will be allowed to control their state.
“You have a national chairman and secretary who in 24 hours is in Nyesom Wike bedroom, a minister in APC government, at a time when Nigeria is facing serious crisis. Our opposition is now in the bed of the ruling party. And some of our governors will go to Jos because they are part of this political fraud. They consider the feelings of party members who have expectations. I must commend some of our governors who have remained loyal to the party,” he said.
Ugochinyere also vowed that the alleged plot by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to seize Rivers State allocation, impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara will fail, adding that the governor will complete his tenure and reelected.
He said; “If you want to join APC, join APC. But these clowns are running around just to destroy our party. What did we do to them? Should we bury our courts because of Wike?? You campaigned and Atiku defeated you, and you’ve vowed to destroy the party. Ikpeazu lost in Senate, Ortom lost, Ugwuanyi lost but today they are so proud to destroy what our founding fathers did.
“Today, anybody that doesn’t agree with him he’s fighting him. There will be an end to this nonsense. Rivers state is an integral part of party and Wike is aiming for the resources of rivers. We won’t let it happen. He has fought with everyone. I advise President Bola Tinubu to be very careful dealing with him. Because when things go wrong between you two, he will tell us your story.
“You supported someone to be governor, you produced all the commissioners, all house of assembly members, local government chairmen. The governor didn’t have any input. He produced the party structure. Was there any issue? It’s only a man who’s at war with his inner self that can have problem with Siminalayi Fubara.
“But Wike still quarreled with him and wants to impeach him. You were there when the 27 lawmakers joined APC. Your seat has become vacant. Now you’re running around trying to bastardize the judiciary. Are we going to change our law because of Wike? Now he wants to seize the allocation of Rivers so that workers won’t be paid salary and everything will collapse in Rivers.
“Everyday he’s running from one court to another to get injunction. His attempt will fail!!! Any attempt to seize Rivers allocation is an invitation to anarchy!!! The statutory allocation is the symbol of federation and constitutional governance.”
