The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, has refuted recent claims regarding internal rifts within the opposition party.
The Governor of Bauchi State made this remark following a series of suspensions within the party leadership on Friday.
OsunDailyNG reported earlier that the PDP crisis escalated on Friday morning with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) division.
A faction of the PDP loyal to the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, had, in a statement on Friday morning, announced the suspension of its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN).
The PDP National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, made this known in a statement issued in the early hours of Friday.
Subsequently, another faction, in a statement issued by Ologunagba, suspended Damagum, the national chairman of the PDP.
Nevertheless, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order preventing the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP from ousting Umar Damagum as the acting national chairman.
Justice Peter Lifu ruled that only Damagum should be acknowledged as the PDP national chairman until the party’s national convention, which is set for December 2025.
It is worth noting that the crisis rocking the PDP started after the party’s presidential primary polls ahead of the 2023 election.
However, following a private meeting with PDP stakeholders at the Government House in Bauchi on Friday, Governor Mohammed reiterated that the party remains united and is committed to constructively resolving its internal issues.
The PDP Governors’ Forum chairman said: “I would say that we have met and discussed these situations extensively with the acting National Chairman and we have agreed to work together along with other party organs—the BOT, members of the Governors’ Forum, caucuses of the Senate and the House—to resolve all these issues and that is the major takeaway of this visit.
“We will deepen stakeholding and collaboration so that all these issues that are disparaging the members of the party will be resolved and nipped in the bud.”
“We have decided that henceforth, we will not allow a gap, and we will make sure that we resolve all these issues.
“We are not recognizing any faction; we are together as a body, and definitely, at the end of the day, we will resolve all issues.”
Mohammed confirmed that the PDP is diligently addressing its internal challenges by fostering collaboration among essential party stakeholders.
He emphasized that the ultimate decision is not solely his responsibility but involves other members who are stakeholders within the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BOT), the caucus, and other senior party officials.
Additionally, he mentioned that discussions with his fellow PDP governors are currently being held to ascertain the forthcoming actions.
“This has been a productive outing, and I am assured that the party will come together to resolve all contending issues. We have agreed, in the presence of other stakeholders, that we will do whatever it takes to restore the party’s glory so it can achieve victory in the 2027 elections,” Mohammed declared.
