Monday, June 3, 2024 - The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, says the party wants Peter Obi and other former members back into its fold.
Damagum said this during a feature on
‘Nigeria Right Now’, a program on AIT, which aired on May 30.
LIB had earlier reported that Obi who was
the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election,
recently paid visits to some chieftains of the PDP, including Atiku Abubakar
and there have been talks of a merger between both parties.
When asked to speak about Obi's recent
visits, Damagum was evasive.
“He (Obi) hasn’t visited me. I am not a
poke-noser to be going about trying to know what the visits are all about,” he
said
Asked if he would want Obi back in the PDP,
the party chair said;
“Not only
him. Every other person that has been in this party, we want them back. The
party like I told you, is a brand that you cannot take away. It will
accommodate all of us. We are making steps in that direction. The true position
is that the party has not been approached (for a merger). Maybe individuals are
talking about that but as of today, we have not had any discussions as a party
with any group. PDP has structures all over the country. Look at our
performance. PDP can stand alone and win this election. PDP is a solid party
and they can come in and join us. But I don’t think for now we are
contemplating changing our name for any political party that would not add
value to us.”
Damagum also spoke on the crisis in the PDP
and the demand for the suspension of some members over alleged anti-party
activities.
The PDP chair said instead of suspending
members, reconciliation should be pursued.
“After all, most of the agitators for this
suspension, go back to their states, what value have they added to the party?”
he asked.
“You don’t just sit down because you are
aggrieved with somebody or your personal hatred for somebody and you want the
party to act along your own thinking.”
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