The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it is determined to prevent Nigeria from slipping into a one-party state, vowing to rebuild itself for future electoral victories.
At a meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) on Tuesday, leaders expressed concern about the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s alleged attempts to consolidate power.
Acting BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara warned that if PDP goes under, definitely democracy will go under in Nigeria.
He said, “A lot has happened; a lot is happening; the state of the party we all know, and this is the time to hit the ground running since all the judgements have all come and gone.
“Our role as members of the Board of Trustees, the main organ of this party, is to ensure that this party does not die.
“If PDP goes under, definitely democracy will go under in Nigeria. We know that there are plans to turn this country into a one-party state, but that will only happen when we allow it.
“So, we must fight for democracy in Nigeria, and it is only the PDP that can do that. Nobody owns this party, but other parties are owned.
“Here, we follow due process democratically. I want to beg all of you, especially the NWC, to do everything to bring this party back on track.
“There are so many issues, and it is time now for us to address those issues, where necessary, forgive and forget, and where necessary, take the necessary actions.
“Some people are blaming us for not taking disciplinary action on time, and of course that has always been the bane of the party. We look at faces before we take action.
“But some of us, especially the BoT, are always objective. Anything that goes outside our constitution will create problems, we should strictly abide by our constitution. Follow the law, the rules, and our constitution religiously, and we cannot fail.”
National Chairman Amb. Umar Damagum outlined plans for the upcoming Edo State governorship election.
Damagum said, “This meeting will enable us to brief you on the activities of the NWC and also outline our plans for the coming months.
“Now that all 2023 election petitions are resolved, there is no better time to begin rebuilding the party than now.
“You are all aware of the forthcoming Edo State Governorship election. We have initiated the process of selecting a candidate for that election. Despite challenges, we remain focused, and with the grace of God, we will retain Edo.
“We also urge all members to pay attention to Edo and individually promote the PDP. It is crucial to ensure that we have a united party in Edo to retain the governorship seat. Therefore, all hands must be on deck.
“I also want to remind our BoT members that the task of rebuilding this party extends beyond the NWC. We are all stakeholders, and wherever you find yourself, you don’t have to wait for the NWC to speak up to protect the party; it is a collective responsibility. Finally, I want to reiterate our commitment.”
The meeting followed a request by PDP governors on Monday for an urgent party leadership meeting. Notable attendees included Governor Bala Mohammed; former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke; his Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu; former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido; ex-Ebonyi State Governor, Sam Egwu; ex-Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa; ex-Kaduna State Governor, Mohammed Makarfi; and Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Others include Okwesilieze Nwodo, Senator Ben Obi, Senator Stella Omu, Josephine Anenih, and Chief Emeka Ihedioha.
Those who sent apologies include Sanusi Dagash, Dubem Onyia, Abubakar Tanko, Sen. Abdul Ningi, Prof. Jerry Gana, Chief Bode George, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, and Ibrahim Idris.
