PDP Crisis: “Why Damagum must step down” — PDP chieftain

Former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbodiyan, has emphatically stated that the North Central region is deserving of the opportunity to produce the next national chairman of the PDP.

He argues that this move would reflect the party’s commitment to inclusivity and regional representation within its leadership structure.

Ologbodiyan’s assertion comes amid ongoing discussions about the future direction of the party and the need for a unified approach to address the challenges facing the PDP. His call for leadership from the North Central region emphasizes the importance of equitable representation in Nigerian politics.

According to Ologbodiyan, the prolonged tenure of Umar Damagum, the Deputy Chairman of the party, as the acting chairman is detrimental to the PDP.

Ologbondiyan also decried the continuous postponement of the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Speaking to North Central youths in Abuja on Thursday, Ologbondiyan said that North Central chairmanship is the only pathway to fixing PDP.

He said: “Anything outside of this demand will end up an exercise in futility. Advertisement “Leaders must look at the bigger picture and address the truth wherever it is required.

“We must tell those who have undertaken to either kill the PDP or render it comatose that the party is not a one-man organisation. The founders named it the Peoples Democratic Party.

“It is, therefore, owned by the people of Nigeria and not any individual, no matter how well placed in the society.”

According to him, Damagum must not be encouraged to disrespect the soul of the party as embodied in the various organs of the PDP.

He said the postponements of NEC by the NWC is an aberration that shows a huge disrespect to the constitutional order of the party.

He therefore charged the leaders of the party not to allow the November 28 NEC to be wished away like the previously scheduled dates.

Ologbondiyan emphasised the need for the North Central not to relent in its rightful demand for the National Chairman of the PDP, stressing that doing otherwise would amount to brushing aside their rights in the PDP.

“It is trite wisdom that as long as Damagum is being encouraged to continue to sit on the position of North Central, the concept of fixing the PDP will be mere lip servicing that can cause the party more harm,” he said.