A coalition of federal lawmakers in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused some governors and 24 state party chairpersons of plotting to extend the tenure of acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, until 2027.
The lawmakers warn that such a move could severely weaken the party’s structure and prospects.
The lawmakers, led by Ikenga Ugochinyere, representative for Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State, expressed their concerns during a press briefing in Akokwa, Imo State, on Sunday.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Ugochinyere stated, “Our nation is grappling with numerous economic and political challenges, yet the absence of a vibrant and accountable opposition is glaring.
The PDP, expected to lead this opposition, is being hijacked by political opportunists turning it into a tool for the ruling party.”
Reflecting on the party’s legacy, he said, “It’s disheartening to see the PDP, a party established in 1998 by visionaries like Alex Ekwueme, Jerry Gana, Atiku Abubakar, and Olusegun Obasanjo—leaders who helped end 16 years of military rule—now being mismanaged by its current leadership. The actions of Umar Damagum and Samuel Anyanwu fall short of the expectations Nigerians have for this party.
Ugochinyere further alleged that efforts were underway to block the National Executive Committee (NEC) from selecting a substantive National Chairman from the North Central region, as originally intended.
“There is a deliberate plan to keep Umar Damagum in his acting role until 2027, thereby paving the way for the emergence of a weak presidential candidate,” he claimed.
The lawmaker criticized the party’s leadership, accusing them of repeatedly delaying NEC meetings and providing flimsy excuses for inaction. “They’ve cited holidays and other excuses to postpone meetings. For over a year now, no meaningful NEC session has taken place. Instead, PDP’s national leaders seem to be engaging with APC officials, even holding secret meetings in London,” he said.
Ugochinyere also accused the PDP leadership of forming an alliance with APC leaders, specifically mentioning the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike. He called out such associations as detrimental to the party’s role as the opposition.
“Our party is being led by individuals without honor or integrity. Their actions are undermining the PDP, and it’s clear the ruling APC is benefiting from this chaos,” he added.
The coalition urged party members and stakeholders to resist the alleged attempts to extend Damagum’s tenure and to refocus efforts on rebuilding the PDP as a credible opposition force ahead of the next general elections.