PDP stakeholders disagree over ongoing party crisis

On Tuesday, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engaged in a heated exchange regarding the persistent issues plaguing the party.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, attributed the crisis to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, while Ugochinyere directed his criticism towards Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum.

During a conference titled “Fix PDP To Fix Nigeria,” Ugochinyere expressed that Damagum’s role as acting chairman is exacerbating the party’s difficulties.

He lamented that the PDP has failed to effectively fulfill its role as the opposition, stating, “We are not even close to functioning as an opposition party.”

Ugochinyere emphasized the need for the party to regroup and re-establish its identity as a challenger to the current government, drawing comparisons to successful opposition parties in countries like Senegal and Ghana. He criticized the current state of the PDP, saying, “We are not even at 10% of what we should be as an opposition party,” and pointed out the decline of Nigeria as a leader in African political activism.

He urged party members to reflect on why they are not functioning effectively as an opposition, acknowledging past mistakes but asserting that foundational principles laid by the party’s founders should guide them.

He expressed disappointment with the current leadership, asking NWC members if they take pride in how the party is currently managed and questioning their commitment to change.

Ugochinyere underscored that the NWC must not only administer justice but also be perceived as doing so, highlighting the challenges the party has faced since losing elections and funding. He noted the emergence of new political movements, referencing Peter Obi’s success in retaining support in several states, and called attention to the need for internal reform before external challenges can be addressed.

He highlighted the necessity of resolving leadership disputes, stressing that without addressing these internal issues, the public would continue to view the party with skepticism. He pointed to the importance of adhering to the party’s constitutional provisions and questioned Damagum’s continued leadership role, emphasizing the need for the National Executive Committee (NEC) to convene and select a new acting chairman.

Abdullahi, on the other hand, placed blame on Atiku for the party’s difficulties, stating that the current NWC inherited these issues. He refuted claims that the NWC is under the influence of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, asserting that the party’s troubles stem from Atiku’s actions. Abdullahi criticized Atiku for contributing to the governance of Muhammadu Buhari, stating, “We are not aligned with Wike; Atiku has brought us these challenges.”