PDP Crisis: North East Govs, Damagum, Others Meet, Seek End To Rift

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed concern over the crisis  rocking the party and called for resolution of the rift within its fold.

This comes as the PDP national chairman, Iliya Damagum, reiterated his  warning to party leaders about destroying the party, noting that PDP is greater than the interests of individual members of the party.

The leadership crisis rocking the PDP came to a head at Wednesday’s Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting in Abuja where Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Hon Sunday Ude-Okoye clashed over the national secretary position.

An attempt by Anyanwu’s aide to stop Ude-Okoye from attending the meeting was rebuffed.

The scuffle led to the large deployment of security personnel at the party premises. The battle for national secretary position is one of the frontiers in a series of battles which have created a split within the National Working Committee of the party.

The party is expected to hold its  much-anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting next month.

Speaking in Bauchi on Thursday at the North East Zonal Caucus meeting, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of the Northeast PDP governors, claimed that detractors causing division in the party are doing so to find a subtle way of calling names and dumping the party.

The stakeholders meeting also had the PDP National Reconciliation Committee in attendance.

Mohammed however assured that North East PDP governors would continue to work together with National Assembly members to minimise division in the party.

He also commended the level of unity and harmony existing among caucus members of the party. “This is worthy of emulation,” he said.

In his remarks on party unity,  Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, assured that the three governors from the North-East would work together to strengthen the PDP in the region.

The governor also highlighted the importance of unity in the region, which he believes contributed to the party’s victory in all states of the region during the last presidential election.

“There is no state in the zone that PDP lost. Even the one we lost in Borno, up until now, we are still wondering how we lost that election because we know we did not lose that election in Borno,” he said.

On his part, Damagum said PDP would emerge stronger out of the current internal rancour detracting smooth operations of the party.

The national chairman also warned that nobody is above the party. He explained that no leader in PDP is bidding for another person, calling on all members to unite and weather the storm together as was done previously.

“Your party still the best and stand out all tests and it is still standing. We always find a way to surmount our trouble. This is ideal for for democracy,” he said.

Damagum called on all PDP members and leaders to sheathe their swords and end division to protect the collective interest of the party.

He added, “We have experienced politicians who have seen it all. No personal bidding. Nobody is above this party. The party is more than an individual.”

On his part, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo noted that the PDP would continue to win more grounds and clinch Aso Villa in 2027.

He noted that it is a matter of time when PDP would be assured of victory in the next general elections in the country.

“We will overcome our challenges and emerge stronger and have an occupant of the seat at the top of the country from our party. We have done it before. We will continue to do it, “ emphasised.