PDP national convention can’t be stopped by disgruntled elements, detractors Damagum, Governors, BoT, others vow

• Say no going back

• As Wike, Ortom, Fayose, others give condition for convention to go on

IBy Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Ahead of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan,Oyo State capital, national leaders of the party have unanimously vowed to navigate the party beyond what they called the shenanigans, arrogance, and impunity of its detractors.
The party’s National Chairman, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed, Secretary of its Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Oladejo Arapaja and Governor of Adamawa, Mr Ahmadu Fintiri, among others, made the vow at the inauguration of the 2025 national convention organizing committee on Tuesday in Abuja.
At the well attended inauguration held at the party’s Wadata House national secretariat, they all declared that they are not afraid of anybody in the task of putting PDP on a sound footing.
In an apparent reference to the threat by the Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike and those loyal to him that the national convention may not hold until certain conditions are met, all those who spoke at the inauguration ceremony made it succinctly clear that there is no going back on the elective national convention.
Senator Bala Mohammed, who is also the Governor of Bauchi State, in his address, pointedly said, “We are not cowards, and we are not afraid of anybody. We are capable of navigating this party beyond the shenanigans, beyond the arrogance, and beyond the impunity of others.
“We cannot continue to take part and allow people to take us to the slaughterhouse. That’s our job. And our job is to make sure we don’t go to the slaughterhouse. And we are working as governors and working with the committee to ensure that.
“The key word is discipline. We will no longer allow or tolerate anybody to take us for granted. It has to stop. Enough is enough. We are not going to tolerate it any longer. Yes, consensus. Yes, accommodation. But accommodation cannot mean stupidity.
“And definitely, Mr. Chairman, we are with you on this journey as governors. And we will show that we believe in the capacity of the regulator, INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission). We are confident that it is a very valid and credible organization, driven by the rule of law.
‘”This convention is on course. Our party is on course to make sure we have our party.
“If anybody wants to become a faction of fools, we will allow him to go and do it”, he said.
On his part, the National Chairman of the party, Amb Damagum noted with sadness that many of the destructive voices within the party have come from individuals who have benefited immensely from the PDP.
He stated that the the concerned members sought to sow division and weaken our structures.
His words, “Ironically, many of the destructive voices have come from individuals who have benefited immensely from the PDP. They sought to sow division and weaken our structures.
“Yet history will record, and analysts will debate, but the consensus will remain that in a time of great difficulty, this National Working Committee, under my leadership, held the line and did a remarkable job.
“Today, I say with conviction that the PDP is not broken. The PDP is not defeated. The PDP is marching forward; stronger, more determined, and better prepared to fulfill our overriding objective: to reclaim the presidency of this great country and rebuild Nigeria from the mismanagement of the current ruling party.
“This is mission critical. The recent by-elections across the country, as well as the local government elections in Port Harcourt, speak for themselves. Opposition parties were met with intimidation and blatant rigging.
“The ruling party has shown no regard for democracy; their only interest lies in disenfranchising voters and stealing mandates. I will not dignify their actions by calling it ‘winning.’
“Just as during the military era, when the founding fathers of our great party courageously accepted the responsibility of challenging the existing power structure, today we, too, accept this responsibility—to rescue Nigeria’s democracy from undemocratic forces and to save our nation from this ongoing bastardization.
“The inauguration of this Committee, while part of our tradition, also symbolizes our collective determination to organize, to mobilize, and to deliver a National Convention that will stand as a testament to our democratic ideals”, he declared.
The Chairman of the National convention committee that has 119 members and Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri said, “This convention is not chaired by a learner, it is chaired by a credible, a resolute, a fair chairman. So I want to ask some of us, please let’s respect this party that has positioned us into where we have found ourselves individually in this country.
“Let us not be taking all our problems to the media. I am ready to accommodate all your fears whatever you will ask for, the secretary of the committee is there. “We are not going to stop anybody from contesting whatever position that you feel fit to contest but then you have to do it with decorum. Come and buy the form, we will sell it for you, to test your might, test your popularity. If you want, you can start going around the states to do your campaign but to be taking all our matters to the media, since we have a leadership of the party; I think it is unbecoming, too embarrassing to even go so far.
“Please let us respect ourselves, let us respect each other and ensure that whatever we are doing, is what will take this party to a greater height”, Fintiri stated.
Continuing, he said, “I want to tell you, every stakeholder in this party is my friend but I will not place our relationship above this party. I will deliver on my assignment. I will ensure that what is expected of us, is what is done and I accept it along with 119 members, this assignment on behalf of our party with all humility.
“I have declared the secretariat open and I have kick-started the work of this convention until we deliver what is expected of us by the 15th of November in Ibadan.
“I want to urge members of this committee to work hard. Everyone of us should make sure you leave your comfort zone, you make sacrifice and ensure you are always available for every meeting so that we can plan and ensure that we deliver the best, the fairest and the most credible convention ever.
“So that we can open a gateway for some of us that have shifted side, because I still believe there is no ADC in this country. It will still fizzle away so long as we get our acts together, so long as we do what is expected of us.
“We will still work with them and call them back to this party and I know also that if we do the kind of magic we did when we conducted the last convention in 2022, even the ADC will have nowhere than to come back to PDP”, he said.
The Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara, who was represented by the Secretary of the board and former Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, said, “Convention is not about excluding anybody, it’s also not a denial of the majority to have their way, because that’s what democracy is all about.
“Convention is not about 100% but about overwhelming majority. If you have 100 per cent fine. In that direction, the party has zoned its positions, North, South. North can sit and do what they wish. South can sit and do what they wish.
“But that should not deny any individual who disagrees by testing his will. Buy the form, go to the field and test your capacity.
“So, there’s no need raising temperature, because there will be no, and there should be no exclusion. That has been the tradition since PDP was formed.
We have three powerful chairmen.
“Let’s build consensus. We have always been building consensus. Now we need it more than any other time. I believe we have the capacity to do that”, he stressed.
Similarly, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Arapaja, said, “PDP belongs to all and not to anybody or a group of people. PDP will not die.We are ready to move and we are already moving.
“Nigerians know that the credible alternative is the PDP and we are heading back to the Aso Rock. PDP is great and remain great”.
Governor Fintiri chairs the 119-member Committee, with Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, serving as vice chairmen.
The inauguration had in attendance Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, represented by Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai; former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau; and former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Also present were members of the NWC, including National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba; National Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature; Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshedo; Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; alongside several other members.

END