₦airaland Forum

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, has disclosed that he declined pressure to punish erring members for the sake of the party.

Damagum, who stated this in his speech at the Board of Trustees meeting of PDP on Wednesday in Abuja, admitted to making decision and compromises over the sanction of party members, which he said, was for the party’s interest.

He, however, said despite the initial legal hitches, the 2025 Elective National Convention of the party will hold.

The PDP chairman urged that the next National Working Committee of the party be made up of men and women of integrity capable of rallying the base, reviving traditional structures, and inspiring new members across the federation.

“Yesterday, the 4th of November 2025, Justice Akintola delivered a landmark ruling affirming that our party has sufficiently satisfied all provisions of the law and therefore retains the constitutional right to organise its internal democratic processes — specifically, to hold the 2025 Elective National Convention.

“I must confess that what Justice Akintola did, in this era of judicial intimidation and moral compromise, is an act of courage.

“In a time when some have sought to manipulate our courts and intimidate our judges, it takes bravery to stand for the truth and defend the law. His judgment is not just a victory for our party, but for democracy itself.

“And that, my dear party leaders and members, is exactly what this moment in our national trajectory demands of us as an opposition party: Courage.”

He said courage can be contagious, but can also be misunderstood.

He recalled that when he assumed office as the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, he met a deeply divided factions distrusting one another, and suspicion clouding the shared purpose.

“I realised then that what our party needed most was reconciliation, not vengeance, not anger, not blame. We needed to heal the wounds opened after the 2023 general elections.

“At the time, some felt I was taking sides because I refused to indulge in the vindictiveness of punishing those they wanted punished. But I knew better. When they could not understand the wisdom of sheathing their swords, they left the party.

“Yet, even now, those I was accused of aligning with have completely misunderstood my intentions. The truth is simple: every decision I took, every compromise I made, every gesture of accommodation was for the sake of the party.

“I chose the party, not individuals, not factions, but the enduring institution of the PDP that shall outlive us all. That is what loyalty and courage means.

“Courage is also what our next National Working Committee (NWC) must possess. Our democracy is being dragged through the mud, and beyond that, we now face the risk of foreign interference and security threats that challenge our sovereignty,” Damagun said.

Emmy000seun:
Lol ..😂😂😂..you always pass when you see their news, but here you comment on their news...🙄🙄.watin we go call this one

Ofunaofu:
https://leadership.ng/why-i-compromised-on-punishing-erring-members-damagum/

Brendaniel:
Once I see any news about PDP I just pass it over, I mean what are they still fighting for in PDP?

Wike is currently bigger than PDP, his weight is sinking the party into the ocean and they keep fighting on the sinking ship, the only way to stop PDP from sinking into the ocean is remove the heavy weight(Wike) from the ship then PDP will gain balance back, till then any news from PDP is like trash to me...

Emmy000seun:
Lol ..😂😂😂..you always pass when you see their news, but here you comment on their news...🙄🙄.watin we go call this one

magoo10:
Wike and his group of desperados should allow peace reign.
From the little I know regards justice system the high court in oyo as jurisdiction in given verdict for PDP to go on with their convention basing it on 'jurisdiction '. which the convention is holding.
No judge who is truly a judge should give any judgement favouring Wike who has proven to have conflicting interest with the APC and PDP.

ufotunang:
..was it not better for PDP to have gone to appeal court.. after the federal high court gave a judgement that the convention should not hold..so does the state high have any effect on countering the judgement of the federal high court .. when the state and federal high court are of the same level... PDP should had gone to appeal to counter the order of the federal high court

Zico5:
Only one man is dismantling a party that once paraded some heavy weights in this country. How can a party still accord a mole in the party to control them. A PDP member is endorcing a candidate from another party openly and they are all looking on.

free2ryhme:
all of your are compromised, PDP is a den of thieves