…cautions members against attacking those who recently left the PDP.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times reports that the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is fully prepared to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general elections, promising what he called “the fight of its life.”
Speaking on Wednesday during the 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP in Abuja, Mohammed stressed the party’s resolve to provide a credible platform for Nigerians to actualise their political aspirations.
“We will give the APC a credible run for their money, in terms of a contest delivered on a level playing field. We are a party that is in touch,” he said.
The governor cautioned members against attacking those who recently left the party, saying that the PDP’s doors remain open to returnees, but only for a limited period.
“We don’t have to make noise or cause more disparaging issues. We are working behind the scenes through the NWC, BOT, caucuses of the National Assembly, and the state chapters to remain united,” he noted.
Mohammed, a leading PDP figure and former minister, also warned that the era of tolerating indiscipline in the party was over.
“We will not continue to condone indiscipline because it is what has brought us our challenges. The PDP has shown resilience, and the governors and party leaders are making sacrifices. We must appreciate that,” he stated.
The governor urged party members to put aside personal ambition and unite for the party’s success, adding, “Our ambition is not more important than the nation.”
Damagum Mocks Opposition Coalition
Also addressing the NEC, the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum, dismissed the newly unveiled coalition of opposition politicians under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), labelling it an “ill-fated experiment.”
Damagum said the party is not losing sleep over the coalition, revealing that many members who had flirted with it have already returned.
“Many who jumped on the coalition bandwagon have already returned to our fold. Some even claimed they never left. We accept their confessions without prejudice,” he said.
He insisted the PDP remains the only political party with the national spread, structure, and credibility to dislodge the APC from power in 2027.
National Convention Moved to November
The NEC, in a major decision, approved the rescheduling of the PDP National Elective Convention. Originally slated for August in Kano, the event will now hold from November 15 to 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Reading the communiqué after the NEC meeting, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the convention would elect new members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
He disclosed that the NEC had also mandated the National Chairman and National Secretary to officially notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the new date and venue, in compliance with the Electoral Act.
In preparation, the NEC approved the composition of both the National Convention Planning Committee and the Zoning Committee.
Crackdown on Defections and Disloyalty
In a stern move, the NEC directed the party’s leadership to commence legal processes to recover seats held by PDP lawmakers who defected to other political parties. This, it said, is in line with Sections 68 (1)(g) and 109 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.
The NEC also condemned the participation of some party members in the activities of rival political parties, warning that the law forbids dual party membership.
Several high-profile PDP members, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President David Mark, have recently shown sympathy towards the ADC-led coalition. A meeting on July 1, attended by Atiku, Mark, Aminu Tambuwal, Liyel Imoke, Babangida Aliyu, and others, expressed concerns over the PDP’s current state, describing it as a “shadow of its former self.”
BoT: Convention Will Shape Nigeria’s Political Future
Earlier, the Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, had said the outcome of the November convention would significantly define the nation’s political trajectory.
Speaking at a pre-NEC BoT meeting, Makarfi called for unity, reconciliation, and internal discipline.
“We must never take the current stability for granted. The success of the convention will determine if we win back aggrieved members or attract fresh ones,” he said.
Makarfi urged the party to seize the opportunity to resolve internal grievances.
“We know that some are aggrieved, but we must pull down those grievances. If we work together, the convention can resolve them. It is an opportunity we must not miss,” he stated.
