The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Tuesday restated its readiness to rescue the Nigerian democracy ahead of its much-anticipated convention and the 2027 election.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 2025 Elective National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) consisting of 119 members in Abuja, the chairman of the party, Ambassador Illiya Umar Damagum, described the event as the right step forward towards strengthening the party as it prepared to elect the next National Officers who will lead it into the future.
Chaired by the governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the main committee for the National Convention also have governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state as vice chairman, while governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state is the secretary.
According to Damagum, their competence to undertake the task is well known and unquestionable, saying they also reflect the diversity and unity of the PDP family.
“Your Excellencies, thank you for accepting to serve in these roles, which place substantial demands on your time and energy. However, I am confident that with your wealth of experience and commitment, you will discharge this mandate with diligence, fairness, and excellence.
“Leaders, brothers, and sisters of the PDP. This national convention is of critical importance. The National Officers we elect will lead our great party into the next general elections and beyond. We must recognize that the challenges we face as the leading opposition are mutating, much to the dismay of well-meaning Nigerians. While the faction that broke out has not garnered much traction, we know that politics is dynamic, and the ruling class may seek to capitalize on or even sponsor such distractions to weaken the PDP, which remains the only dominant opposition party in our dear country, Nigeria.
“Permit me to share a few brief reflections, which I believe will help underscore the importance of this committee’s work. By fate and through political outcomes, I did not contest as National Chairman of the PDP; I was elected as Deputy National Chairman (North). Yet, for nearly two years now, first in an acting capacity and now substantively, I have been entrusted with chairing the affairs of this great Party.
“Since assuming this responsibility, I have laboured with sincerity and utmost commitment to steady the ship of our Party. In this period, we have pursued reconciliation, worked to reposition our structures, and ensured that despite challenges, the PDP remains the leading voice of the opposition and the enduring hope of millions of Nigerians. On this, we have succeeded.
“But let me be clear; this success has only been made possible by silence and tolerance on my part. Not because I enjoy being disparaged, but because at critical moments, I chose restraint , not out of weakness, but as a conscious sacrifice for the survival and stability of our party.
“Ironically, many of the destructive voices have come from individuals who have benefited immensely from the PDP. They sought to sow division and weaken our structures. Yet history will record, and analysts will debate, but the consensus will remain that in a time of great difficulty, this National Working Committee, under my leadership, held the line and did a remarkable job.
“Today, I say with conviction that the PDP is not broken. The PDP is not defeated. The PDP is marching forward; stronger, more determined, and better prepared to fulfill our overriding objective: to reclaim the presidency of this great country and rebuild Nigeria from the mismanagement of the current ruling party.
“This is mission critical. The recent by-elections across the country, as well as the local government elections in Port Harcourt, speak for themselves. Opposition parties were met with intimidation and blatant rigging. The ruling party has shown no regard for democracy; their only interest lies in disenfranchising voters and stealing mandates. I will not dignify their actions by calling it ‘winning.’ Just as during the military era, when the founding fathers of our great party courageously accepted the responsibility of challenging the existing power structure, today we, too, accept this responsibility—to rescue Nigeria’s democracy from undemocratic forces and to save our nation from this ongoing bastardisation.
“The inauguration of this Committee, while part of our tradition, also symbolizes our collective determination to organize, to mobilize, and to deliver a National Convention that will stand as a testament to our democratic ideals.
“As you know, the 2025 Elective National Convention is scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, from the 15th to 16th of November, 2025.
“My charge to this Committee is simple, as you carry out your work, let fairness, equity, justice, and unity of purpose be your guiding principles. Let us set aside personal grievances and ambitions that do not serve the collective interest. (If any exists) Let us focus on the bigger picture: building public trust by proving to Nigerians through this convention that the PDP remains the vanguard of democracy and the blueprint for due process.
“Let every member of our Party see, in your conduct, the assurance that PDP belongs to all.
“I have no doubt that we will deliver a convention that reaffirms the PDP as the Party of the People, by the People, and for the People.”
Also, giving a remarks at the event, the Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, while extolling the virtues if the cmmittee members said: “the National Chairman has spoken very clearly.
“The pedigree and capacity of the Convention Committee leadership is never in doubt because we have been doing this for a long time.
“We believe we have done it before, and we believe we will do it very well. The governors are with you, members of this party, and, of course, members of this important committee.
“We are with the National Working Committee. We appreciate the sacrifice they are making. And, of course, we are men that have brought consensus.
“We are on the way forward. We certainly can’t wait. The time has come when we must flex our muscles.
“We are not cowards, and we are not afraid of anybody. We are capable of navigating this party beyond the shenanigans, beyond the arrogance, and beyond the impunity of others.
“We cannot continue to take part and allow people to take us to the slaughterhouse. That’s our job. And our job is to make sure we don’t go to the slaughterhouse.
“And we are working as governors and working with the committee to ensure that. The key word is discipline. We will no longer allow or tolerate anybody to take us for granted.
“It has to stop. Enough is enough. We are not going to tolerate it any longer. Yes, consensus. Yes, accommodation. But accommodation cannot mean stupidity.
“And definitely, Mr. Chairman, we are with you on this journey as governors. And we will show that we believe in the capacity of the regulator, INEC.
“We are confident that it is a very valid and credible organization, driven by the rule of law. This convention is on course. Our party is on course to make sure we have our party.
“If anybody wants to become a faction of fools, we will allow him to go and do it. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.”
The party Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara, who was represented by its Secretary, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, assured that the BoT will continue to work with the working committee, governors to ensure that the party achieve set objectives.
“The work of Convention Planning Committee is quite challenging. It virtually achieved success before the D-Day because of interaction and discussion.
“Convention is not about excluding anybody, it’s also not a denial of the majority to have their way, because that’s what democracy is all about.
“Convention is not about 100% but about overwhelming majority. If you have 100 per cent fine. In that direction, the party has zoned its positions, North, South. North can sit and do what they wish. South can sit and do what they wish.
“But that should not deny any individual who disagrees by testing his will. Buy the form, go to the field and test your capacity.
“So, there’s no need raising temperature, because there will be no, and there should be no exclusion. That has been the tradition since PDP was formed. We have three powerful chairmen. Let’s build consensus. We have always been building consensus. Now we need it more than any other time. I believe we have the capacity to do that.”
The Deputy National Chairman South, Taofeek Arapaja, noted in his speech that the PDP belonged to all and not to anybody or a group of people.
The party he stated further will not die but ready to move.