Umar Damagum, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) acting chairman, has declared that no “disloyal” member will be suspended or expelled from the National Working Committee under his direction.
This follows the recent rebuke of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and numerous others by certain PDP stakeholders, who asked Damagum to penalise them for allegedly engaging in anti-party actions during the recently ended general elections.
Speaking to the PDP Mobilizers Group in Abuja, Damagum rejected this and disclosed that the NWC has approved the formation of a committee to review and make amends with all members who felt wronged.
The party, according to the chairman, is more concerned with making amends and expanding its membership than it is with supporting any purported anti-party groups that could endanger the organisation.
“They always tell you these people aren’t doing the right thing,” he remarked. However, you are subject to a set of rules when you have a position of leadership, and even though you are dying to follow them, you do so out of caution so as not to ruin the house.
“I’ve noticed the agitations on our platforms, when people claim that the NWC isn’t doing this or that. I have the chance to explain now.
“It has been said that when you continue to express your opinions while lacking knowledge in a particular area, it will inevitably hurt others’ ability to empathise with you.”
Damagum also warned party members against assigning blame, calling the 2023 presidential election setback “most painful.”
“I am really proud to say that I started this party as a driver,” he remarked. By God’s grace, I am the acting national chairman today. I never did the maths to figure out that I’ll get this title. I think this party is the greatest in this nation, and I firmly believe in it.
A committee for the assessment and reconciliation of the 2023 election has already been proposed and authorised by the NWC. They’re going to investigate. They will be given the authority to establish subcommittees. But just one national committee will examine the election of 2023 as well as the years 2015 through 2019. This is so that we can meet and make decisions when they bring the reports at the end of the day.
Damagum stated, “If I said we should start suspension, I will end up suspending many people because they were involved in anti-party activities.” Damagum acknowledged that many members had participated in anti-party activities on various levels. Please be patient with us. We plan to supervise this celebration and to keep everyone together. I have this mandate.
