29 PDP States Chairmen Back Damagum, Affirm Ibadan National Convention

In the heart of Abuja, on the morning of November 6, 2025, a significant moment in the unfolding power play within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) quietly took shape. The Forum of PDP State Chairmen, representing the thirty-six states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, convened a decisive meeting that could define the future direction of the opposition party ahead of its much-anticipated national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State. The meeting, attended by twenty-nine state chairmen, was more than a routine political gathering; it was a calculated show of unity at a time when internal factionalism threatened to fracture the PDP’s core.

By the end of the long day’s deliberations, one message emerged loud and clear from the communiqué that followed: the PDP state chairmen were closing ranks behind the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, reaffirming both loyalty and confidence in his leadership. The timing of this reaffirmation was critical. For months, the party had been navigating turbulent waters marked by leadership disputes, legal wrangling, and whispers of internal sabotage. But the Forum’s statement was a deliberate counter-narrative—a public declaration intended to steady the ship and send a strong signal of cohesion to the party’s base, its governors, and the Nigerian public.

At the center of the Forum’s communiqué was a ringing endorsement of Damagum’s stewardship. The chairmen described their support as “total,” emphasizing their confidence in both the National Chairman and the entire National Working Committee (NWC). Sources close to the meeting revealed that this endorsement did not come without vigorous debate. A few state leaders reportedly expressed concerns over the pace of reforms within the party and the lingering divisions in some northern chapters. Yet, the final resolution was unanimous—Ambassador Damagum, they agreed, had managed to stabilize the party in an era of political uncertainty, balancing competing interests while preserving a sense of institutional order.

The Judiciary’s Role and the Road to Ibadan

A key factor in the PDP’s recent stabilization, as reflected in the communiqué, was the judiciary’s intervention. The Forum’s second resolution specifically commended what it termed “the courageous and well-considered judgment” of Hon. Justice Akintola, whose ruling effectively cleared the path for the National Elective Convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan. Justice Akintola’s judgment, according to PDP insiders, dismissed attempts by a rival faction to stall the convention through legal technicalities. His ruling was a pivotal moment, breathing new life into a process that had been dogged by litigation and internal sabotage.

For months, the PDP had found itself trapped in an endless cycle of injunctions, counter-injunctions, and procedural delays—many of them orchestrated by factions seeking to unseat the current leadership. But Justice Akintola’s ruling provided the clarity the party desperately needed. By applauding the judiciary’s courage, the state chairmen were not only expressing gratitude but also acknowledging that without the court’s intervention, the Ibadan convention might have remained in limbo. “This is not just a legal victory; it’s a lifeline for the party,” one northern chairman was quoted as saying during the closed-door session.

Mobilizing for the Ibadan Convention

With the legal hurdle cleared, the Forum turned its attention to mobilization and logistics. In their third resolution, the chairmen urged all recognized delegates, as defined in the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended), to begin earnest preparations for participation in the Ibadan convention. The emphasis on “credible, competent, and loyal men and women” as potential NWC candidates was not coincidental. It reflected the Forum’s growing awareness that internal democracy—long eroded by factional manipulations—must be revived if the PDP hoped to regain national credibility.

Behind the scenes, discussions reportedly focused on ensuring that the Ibadan convention would not devolve into another battleground for factional supremacy. Several state chairmen called for stricter vetting of delegate lists to prevent “ghost delegates” or parallel lists from emerging—a practice that has historically fueled post-convention crises. The Forum also resolved to work closely with the National Convention Planning Committee to guarantee transparency in accreditation, voting, and result collation. “Ibadan must not repeat the mistakes of Port Harcourt or Abuja,” one chairman warned, referring to previous conventions that ended in controversy.

Leadership Synergy and the Triad of Stability

Perhaps the most striking part of the communiqué was its acknowledgment of what it called “effective and collaborative leadership” among the party’s three major power centers: the National Working Committee led by Ambassador Damagum, the PDP Governors’ Forum under Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala Mohammed, and the Board of Trustees (BOT) chaired by Senator Adolphus Wabara. This alignment—rare in the PDP’s recent history—has proven instrumental in calming internal turbulence.

According to insiders, Damagum’s leadership style has been one of quiet diplomacy, preferring dialogue to confrontation. Senator Bala Mohammed, on his part, has been acting as the bridge between the national secretariat and the governors, ensuring that state executives align with national policy directions. Meanwhile, the BOT, under Wabara, has served as the moral compass, urging reconciliation and adherence to the founding principles of the PDP.

This synergy, though fragile, has been credited with keeping the party afloat despite external pressures and internal discord. “For the first time in years, we are seeing coordination between these three layers of leadership,” noted a political analyst familiar with PDP internal workings. “If they can sustain this through the convention, the PDP might just surprise skeptics.”

The Call for Discipline and Internal Order

The Forum’s fifth resolution dealt with an issue that has haunted the PDP since its days in government—indiscipline. From anti-party activities to open defiance of national directives, the party’s inability to enforce discipline has often undermined its effectiveness. The chairmen, in their communiqué, made it clear that the time for laxity was over. They called on all state chapters to invoke relevant constitutional provisions to sanction members whose conduct undermines unity or tarnishes the party’s image.

This call to discipline, while standard in political resolutions, carries deeper meaning in the current context. Over the past year, several prominent PDP members have been accused of working clandestinely with ruling party figures or funding internal sabotage. By emphasizing discipline, the chairmen signaled a readiness to confront these challenges head-on, even if it means sacrificing short-term political alliances. “We cannot keep preaching unity while tolerating betrayal,” said one chairman from the South-East, reflecting the mood of the gathering.

Unity, Victory, and the Road Ahead

The sixth resolution reaffirmed what has become a recurring theme in PDP politics—unity. The chairmen pledged “unwavering commitment” to the unity, progress, and electoral success of the party at all levels. They also promised to work closely with the national leadership to strengthen internal democracy and rebuild public trust. Yet, beneath the rhetoric lies a recognition that unity cannot be achieved through declarations alone. The road to the 2027 general elections will test the PDP’s capacity to act as a cohesive force, especially as it seeks to reclaim its status as Nigeria’s leading opposition party.

Observers note that the Ibadan convention could either cement this new-found unity or expose deeper fissures. Several zones are already jostling for key positions within the NWC, while ambitions for the 2027 presidential ticket quietly simmer in the background. However, the state chairmen’s collective stance suggests a renewed willingness to place party interest above personal ambitions—at least for now.

The Damagum Factor and the Abdullrahman Challenge

One of the most direct and politically charged parts of the communiqué was the Forum’s categorical rejection of what it described as the “purported Abdurahman leadership.” Without naming names, the statement sought to delegitimize attempts by a parallel faction claiming authority within the PDP’s national structure. The Forum’s wording was emphatic: “The PDP has only one National Chairman, His Excellency Umar Damagum.”

This declaration effectively neutralized ongoing propaganda from the so-called Abdurahman faction, which had recently surfaced on social media claiming to represent a “reformist” bloc within the PDP. By publicly disowning the faction, the chairmen not only reinforced Damagum’s legitimacy but also signaled to potential defectors that the mainstream PDP is united behind its current leadership.

Interestingly, the communiqué also highlighted the presence of chairmen from the North Central region, noting that their participation was a deliberate gesture of solidarity with the national leadership. In recent months, North Central PDP chapters had been perceived as lukewarm towards the Damagum-led NWC due to grievances over representation and resource allocation. Their alignment at this meeting was therefore both symbolic and strategic—a message that even former skeptics were now rallying around the party’s established order.

A Broader Context: The PDP at a Crossroads

The PDP’s internal developments cannot be understood in isolation from Nigeria’s broader political dynamics. Since losing power in 2015, the party has struggled to reinvent itself amid a rapidly changing political landscape. The rise of new movements like the Labour Party and the growing appeal of independent-minded youth blocs have challenged the PDP’s once-dominant status. In this context, the Damagum-led leadership faces the dual challenge of internal consolidation and external relevance.

The Ibadan convention represents an opportunity for the PDP to project renewal—a test of whether it can shed the baggage of the past and appeal to a new generation of Nigerians disillusioned with both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and traditional opposition politics. To do so, the party must prove that it has learned from its mistakes: the impunity, the elite disconnect, and the failure to enforce accountability within its ranks.

As one political commentator observed, “This communiqué is not just about Damagum. It’s about whether the PDP can discipline itself into becoming a serious political institution again.”

The Final Word: Between Hope and Reality

As the Forum’s communiqué circulated through political channels and media outlets later that evening, reactions were swift. Party loyalists hailed it as a sign of renewed vigor and stability, while critics dismissed it as another ritualistic affirmation devoid of substance. But for those in the room, the significance of the meeting lay not in rhetoric but in the rare display of unanimity.

For the first time in months, PDP’s state machinery appeared to be speaking with one voice. The real test, however, would come in Ibadan, where words will give way to action, and the party’s internal democracy will face its ultimate reckoning.

If the state chairmen’s resolve holds, the PDP might yet emerge from its current trials stronger, more disciplined, and better positioned to challenge for power once again. But if old habits resurface—if factionalism, ego, and political opportunism creep back into the system—the Ibadan convention could become just another footnote in the long, turbulent history of Nigeria’s once-dominant party.

For now, the message from Abuja is unmistakable: the PDP’s state chairmen have chosen unity, and in choosing it, they have placed their collective faith in Ambassador Umar Damagum’s steady, unassuming leadership to steer the ship toward a potentially historic national rebirth.