By Paul Ebi
In a major development within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), state chairmen of the party across the federation have reaffirmed their loyalty to the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun, disowning the factional leadership allegedly aligned with former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
The chairmen, under the umbrella of the Forum of PDP State Chairmen, made their position known after an emergency meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, where they described Damagun as the legitimate and constitutionally recognized leader of the party.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, the Chairman of the PDP in Benue State, Sir John Ngbede, said the chairmen’s decision was driven by the need to preserve the unity, stability, and integrity of the party ahead of upcoming elections.
> “We stand firmly with Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun as the authentic Acting National Chairman of our great party. Any attempt by a group or individuals to undermine the leadership structure of the PDP is hereby condemned and rejected,” Ngbede stated.
He accused the pro-Wike group of attempting to sow seeds of division in the party, warning that the chairmen would resist any effort to destabilize the PDP for personal or sectional interests.
> “The PDP is bigger than any individual. What the party needs now is reconciliation and collective commitment to our democratic ideals, not factional politics,” he added.
The forum further commended Damagun for what it described as his “steady and balanced leadership” during a turbulent period for the PDP, and urged members nationwide to focus on rebuilding the party rather than engaging in internal conflicts.
The chairmen also passed a vote of confidence on the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Damagun, assuring him of their total cooperation and support in steering the affairs of the party.
Political observers view the declaration as a strong message to the camp of Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the All Progressives Congress (APC) government — a move that has deepened the rift within the PDP.
With this latest show of solidarity, the Damagun-led leadership appears to have strengthened its hold on the party’s national structure, even as calls for a full reconciliation of warring factions continue to echo across Nigeria’s political landscape.
