A coalition of federal opposition lawmakers have accused some People’s Democratic Party governors and 24 state party chairmen of plotting to keep the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, in office until 2027 to weaken the party.
The lawmakers made the claim during a press conference in Akokwa, Imo State, on Sunday evening.
The spokesman for the group and member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, said, “Today, our nation is facing different challenges, both economic and political. But there’s something that’s missing in all these problems and that’s a vibrant and responsive and responsible opposition.
“We have the PDP that’s supposed to lead the opposition, but what we have are political charlatans hijacking the heartbeat of the opposition party and turning it into an errand platform for the ruling party.
“Some of you called me yesterday after the meeting the governors had in Jos and said it’s all over for the PDP. It’s very shameful that a party that was founded in 1998 by the great efforts of our founding fathers-the likes of Alex Ekwueme, Jerry Gana, Atiku Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo, and so many others, came together and ended 16 years of military rule.
“That political party is what these guys are playing Akara with. Umar Damagun and Samuel Anyanwu are now messing up with and forgetting the sacred expectation of Nigerian people.”
He alleged that plans had been perfected to prevent the National Executive Committee from selecting a substantive chairman from the North Central zone, as originally intended.
He added, “They want Umar Damagum to continue to parade himself as the National Chairman and stay in office till 2027 so they can foist on us a weakling that will be presidential candidate.
“We have impostors among us who have no honour and decency. The ruling party will be laughing at them now that they want to sabotage their own party.
“First, they said there was a Sallah holiday, and they shifted it. Since last year, they kept on shifting the NEC meeting. Till now, no NEC meeting. They keep on giving different excuses. The national leaders of PDP are frolicking with APC leaders, going to London having meetings with APC leadership.”
He accused the party leadership of nurturing a political alliance with the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.
