The North Central Zonal Working and Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a warning about a ‘political coup’ within the party, claiming that some desperate forces were trying to hijack its leadership by unlawful means.
The zone reaffirmed its support for the embattled National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, claiming that recent measures to oust him were illegal, foolish, and might plunge the PDP deeper into trouble.
Following an emergency meeting of zonal leaders in Abuja on Tuesday, Hon. Francis Orogu, Secretary of the PDP North Central Zone, issued a warning against a deliberate attempt to undermine the party.
The meeting was prompted by Justice Omotosho’s October 31 Federal High Court ruling, which has reignited factional battles within the main opposition party.
The zonal committee strongly condemned the purported removal of Damagum by four members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the alleged appointment of Hon. Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed as Acting National Chairman, calling the development “reckless, unconstitutional, and insulting.”
“We, the members of the Peoples Democratic Party North Central Zone, hereby distance and dissociate ourselves from the purported impeachment or removal of the National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, by a mere four National Working Committee members and the so-called replacement of same with Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed,” the communiqué declared.
The organization said that certain party members were attempting to ‘push a leadership transition through the backdoor,’ warning that such actions could expose the PDP to outsider intervention and judicial manipulation.
“This negative act, if left unchecked, may in the future provide an opportunity for judicial mischief by some corrupt judges, as witnessed during the 2023 general elections,” it cautioned.
With doubts mounting about the opposition’s cohesiveness, North Central leaders encouraged the National Working Committee to act quickly to restore discipline, reestablish trust, and assure supporters that the upcoming national convention will be transparent and trustworthy.
“The NWC must be focused on rebuilding confidence and reassuring supporters of its commitment to a credible congress and new leadership,” the zonal leaders said.
In an appeal that crossed party lines, the North Central PDP urged President Bola Tinubu to guarantee that security agencies are not dragged into political intrigues or used to intimidate opponents.
“Mr. President, please note that not all who praise a leader in power are well-wishers. Allow your destiny to drive your future, as always,” the zonal committee advised.
The group emphasized that both military and political coups represent severe risks to Nigeria’s fragile democracy and must be opposed with equal zeal.
It also urged party members across the country to stay calm, disciplined, and united, expressing hope that the current turbulence would pass, but not before exposing those who, in its words, ‘seek to trade the essence of the PDP for personal ambition.’
