Damagum blames PDP crisis on selfish ambitions, urges defectors to return

The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has said the internal crises plaguing the party are largely self-inflicted, attributing the turmoil to members who have abandoned party ideology for personal political ambition.

Speaking in Abuja during a meeting with the party’s founding members and key stakeholders on Wednesday, Damagum lamented the growing trend of members undermining the PDP by affiliating with other political groups while still claiming party loyalty.

“You cannot belong to two political parties at the same time,” Damagum said, warning that such actions weaken the PDP’s foundation. “From the Obasanjo era to the present, we have too often jettisoned ideology in favour of personal ambition—and it has cost us dearly.”

He maintained that the PDP’s founding vision and commitment to internal democracy remain key strengths and said the party still holds its doors open to returning members. “It is my earnest prayer that in their return, they may rediscover themselves,” he added.

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, echoed Damagum’s remarks, describing defections as misguided. “Leaving PDP for another party is not a smart political move. PDP has structure, legacy, and national spread,” he said.

Mohammed urged defectors to return with humility, saying the party has endured much and remains resilient. “Even those who left, we don’t denigrate them. We are only saying: come back,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, former Senate President Bukola Saraki admitted he made a mistake when he previously left the party in anger, stating that defections do not solve internal problems. “We must find solutions from within. Anger doesn’t provide good leadership,” he noted.

Damagum concluded by emphasizing the party’s relevance in today’s Nigeria, citing widespread economic hardship and declining trust in leadership. He called on members to unite and reposition the PDP as a credible alternative in Nigeria’s political landscape.