Nigeria Why I Won’t Sanction Wike, Makinde, Ortom, others- PDP Chairman

In a bold move that has sent shockwaves through the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, the acting Acting Chairman, has firmly rejected calls to sanction perceived 'disloyal' members of the party. This includes prominent figures like former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who faced allegations of anti-party activities during the last election.

Despite mounting pressure from stakeholders urging Damagum to take punitive measures, the acting chairman, addressing the PDP Mobilisers Group in Abuja, made it clear that the National Working Committee (NWC) under his leadership would not suspend any party members. Instead, he announced the establishment of a committee dedicated to reconciling all aggrieved members.

Damagum emphasized the importance of reconciliation over sanctions, asserting that punishing members for alleged anti-party activities could potentially destroy the unity of the PDP. He expressed his commitment to preserving the integrity of the party and avoiding actions that might destabilize it.

"They are always telling you these people are not doing the right thing. But when you are in a position of leadership, you are bound by a set of rules, and these rules even though they are itching you, you don’t apply them; not because of anything, but so that you don’t destroy the house," Damagum stated during his address.

Addressing the criticisms against the NWC, Damagum explained, "Somebody has said sometimes when you are not knowledgeable about certain things and you go on saying about your thinking, it will always injure the sensibility of others to understand you."

He went on to acknowledge the challenges faced by the party during the last general election, admitting that many members were involved in anti-party activities. However, he discouraged the idea of mass suspensions, stating, "If I said we should start suspension, I will end up suspending many people because they were involved in anti-party activities. So, please bear with us. We intend to keep this party together and to manage it. This is my mandate."

Regarding the 2023 presidential election, Damagum described it as "most painful" and urged party members not to engage in blame games. The chairman's stance on reconciliation over sanctions has ignited debates within the PDP, raising questions about the party's strategy for the future