The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, has asserted that the South-South zonal congress held by a faction of the party cannot be recognized.
The congress, organized in Cross River State by party members aligned with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and led by Dan Orbih, was declared by Wike as the legitimate congress for the region.
However, during the inauguration of the South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee at the PDP headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, Damagum maintained that the previous zonal committee’s tenure had ended, making a caretaker committee essential before any valid congress could be conducted.
“This is a very important occasion and I think I want to use this opportunity to tell us that there was no election as far as this party is concerned, in the South-South,” Damagum said. “I have to make this clear, because the tenure of the Zonal Committee has expired, and we still have a few weeks or a month or so to do the Zonal Congresses. So we find it necessary to come up with this caretaker committee.”
He expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to oversee the transition to a new executive body.
“I believe from your choices, some of you I have known and related with, I have no doubt that you will be diligent in your responsibility and usher in the new, soon-to-be-elected Executive Committee of the Zone,” he said. “So, I enjoin you to be devoid of any partisanship or taking sides, to be diligent in the execution of your duties and come up with an all-inclusive Executive Committee in the Zone.”
Damagum also criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that the PDP remains the country’s strongest political force.
“A party that has been tested for 27 years, one of the oldest parties. All these shenanigans you see around, the APC, the others, have not been more than 10 years old and if you’ve grown up to be up to 27 years and still standing, still counting, then there is no guarantee more than that.
“The PDP is the guarantee for Nigerians to change the course of what is happening today in our country. I also want to use this opportunity to caution our leaders, don’t fear them.
“Nobody is going to change your destiny for you other than yourself. I’ve noticed maybe because of fears, you find sometimes leaders encouraging this present administration at the center. I find it really very disgusting. Let’s tell ourselves the truth.
“So please let’s be up and doing. Don’t fear anyone. Nigerians belong to all of us. So there’s nobody who is a better Nigerian than you are. It’s all an opportunity, but if you put your act together, the path is very bright, we will reach the destination.”