Umar Damagum, the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has emphasized the importance of a united front in unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Speaking to BBC Hausa Service on Tuesday, Damagum asserted that no merger or political alliance without the PDP can successfully challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
This remark comes in response to comments made by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), who on Monday ruled out collaborating with the PDP or Labour Party in the next election.
Damagum dismissed Kwankwaso’s claim that the PDP is no longer relevant, stressing that the party remains the most formidable opposition force in Nigeria.
Damagum said, “People are entitled to their opinions, but I want to remind him (Kwankwaso) of the past. When they left the PDP in 2015, if the party didn’t die back then, during a time they thought they had weakened it, I don’t see why anyone would claim it is dead now.
“Let’s not forget that the PDP remains the only party capable of winning elections if you exclude the ruling APC.
“That said, there is no party better than the PDP for Kwankwaso. The party nurtured his political career and brought him to where he is today. We still hope he will return to work with us to rebuild our party and confront this oppressive government.”
Damagum highlighted the PDP’s resilience and continued influence, pointing to its lasting structure and widespread presence throughout Nigeria.
He stated, “The PDP is the only party that has consistently won elections without being in power. Senator Kwankwaso may have left, but how many states did he win with his new party? The facts speak for themselves.
“For over two decades, the PDP has remained steadfast, maintaining its identity and producing governors and lawmakers in every part of the country. Even if four parties merge without the PDP, they cannot win an election. We’ve seen this play out repeatedly. Where are those parties now? Even their alliances with other parties have not delivered the desired results.
“I admit that some of his claims about the challenges we faced back then are valid. As the Deputy National Chairman (North) at the time, my powers were limited, but we tried to resolve the issues. Unfortunately, those efforts fell short. He himself acknowledged this in previous interviews.”
