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By Myke Agunwa
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised party faithful not to lose sleep following the recent exit of former Senate President David Mark and other stalwarts joining the mega coalition, expressing confidence that they will return after a fruitless politcal voyage.
This the first meeting in a very long time to be attended by all the National Working Committee members.
Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Amb. Umar Damagum, made the disclosure on Wednesday during a press briefing that took place at the party’s headquarters at the end of its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting that was attended by its National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu.
Damagum, who warned party leaders to desist from demarketing the party, said that the party’s leadership is intact and united to face the ruling party in the 2027 general election. He said that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will still hold as scheduled.
“We remain united despite all the challenges. We have sat down to discuss all thorny issues and trash it out today. We’ve agreed that we have already, as proposed by the last NEC, that the NEC meeting scheduled for 23rd, 24th and 25th will still hold. To our members, I want to bring good tidings, your party is intact.
“I want to re-emphasize that if you are a member of the People’s Democratic Party, we are drawing a line for those that go to demarket, the party. We will watch them and take appropriate actions at the right time.
“If you believe in this party, you should be an ambassador that protects the fortunes that this party has given to the citizens of this country when it was there,” he said.
The PDP boss cautioned the ruling party to stop poaching its members and also reconsider its policies, noting that it is biting hard on the economy of Nigerians.
“To APC, I want to send a message, that you can continue to harass, and buy our members. But the 2027 election is between Nigerians and APC.
“So, it is better to start now and correct your ways.
“Hunger, insecurity, arbitrary extortion of Nigerians is more than overwhelming,” he said.
He said that PDP is the only organic party in the country, pointing out that most of the seeming misunderstandings in the party was because the party strives to hear all voices and shades of opinion.
“So, we are in a democratic setting. We should hear the yearning of people. Like I said earlier, we are not conquered. We are law-abiding citizens. We deserve to be heard. For democracy to thrive, people must speak their minds. People should be listened to and policies should be people-oriented. It’s not for the few.
“Our leaders have already come together to give us this leadership. This is what you can see in this NWC. And I keep reiterating this is the only party in the country that has lasted this long.
“We have mastered the act of conflict resolution. We know our problems, and we will solve them within ourselves.
“To those that are contemplating, they should know that there is no place and there’s nowhere that will be as accommodating as our party. But if they feel… I will wish them good luck. But I know they will run coming back,” he said.
Present at the meeting were Deputy National Chairman South, Taofeek Arapaja, Vice Chairman South East Ali Odefa, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, Deputy Secretary Arch. Setonji Koshoedo, National Youth Leader Muhammed Suleiman and several other NWC members.