 has vowed to restore integrity and internal democracy within its ranks, as acting National Chairman){kind=link}
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to restore integrity and internal democracy within its ranks, as Acting National Chairman Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammad inaugurated a new Board of Trustees (BoT), describing the move as “a rebirth of conscience” for the once-dominant political party.
Muhammad, who spoke at the inauguration ceremony held on Friday, said the event marked a “new dawn” for the PDP after years of internal wrangling, leadership tussles, and disregard for the party’s founding principles.
According to him, the new BoT is not just a routine administrative structure but a “symbol of moral revival” meant to guide the party back to its founding ideals of justice, fairness, and respect for the rule of law.
“The PDP was never just another political platform, it was a national movement built on unity, service, and democratic discipline.
Somewhere along the line, we lost that essence. But today, we begin the journey of rediscovery,” Muhammad declared.
He lamented that past leadership crises had eroded the moral compass of the party, citing the suspension of former BoT chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara and the controversies surrounding ex-National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum. He said both episodes exposed the cracks that nearly crippled the party’s credibility.
“When those entrusted with leadership choose loyalty over legality, the institution loses its soul,” the acting chairman said.
“That was our painful reality. But the judgment of the Federal High Court reminded us that no political body is greater than the law.”
Muhammad commended the courage of party members who sought legal redress to restore sanity, saying their actions were born out of patriotism, not rebellion.
“They acted not to destroy the PDP, but to redeem it. Their stand is a call to conscience for all of us,” he added.
He further admitted that the party’s decline began when zoning principles were abandoned ahead of the 2015 elections, noting that personal ambition and disregard for internal fairness weakened the PDP’s unity.
“The decay we are correcting today didn’t start yesterday. It began when we placed ambition above equity,” he said.
However, the acting chairman expressed optimism that the party’s new leadership would steer it back to stability and national relevance.
He pledged that the PDP under his watch would respect court rulings, conduct transparent congresses, and restore faith among members.
“Under this new leadership, impunity will no longer find a home in our party. We will rebuild the PDP on the foundation of accountability and constitutional order,” Muhammad assured.
Addressing the newly inaugurated BoT members, he urged them to act as the “voice of conscience” and “guardians of fairness,” reminding them that their duty is a sacred trust, not a political reward.
“Your voices must unite, not divide. Your advice must heal, not harm. The PDP must once again be the moral voice of Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.
Muhammad concluded with a rallying call for renewal, insisting that the party must never again drift from its ideals.
“Let history record that when the PDP stood at the edge of the precipice, men and women of goodwill chose reform over rebellion, truth over silence, and principle over politics,” he stated to loud applause.
The event was attended by members of the National Working Committee, senior stakeholders, and party faithful, who described the inauguration as a hopeful turning point for Nigeria’s main opposition party.