, has dismissed claims of incompetence and collusion with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), asserting his unwavering loyalty to the opposition party.){kind=link}
Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has dismissed claims of incompetence and collusion with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), asserting his unwavering loyalty to the opposition party.
In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, Damagum responded to mounting internal criticism, particularly accusations suggesting he is aligned with the APC or acting under the influence of President Bola Tinubu.
He rejected such claims, stating, “May God judge between me and anyone who falsely accuses me. If I’m secretly working for the APC, may God reveal it.”
He emphasized his political consistency, noting that he has remained with the PDP since 1999 without defecting.
“Those who oppose me will either find ways to praise me or attack me, depending on what suits their purpose,” he said.
Addressing concerns over his relationship with Nyesom Wike, former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Damagum acknowledged knowing Wike but denied any misconduct.
“Yes, I know him, just as many others do. The only issue is that I didn’t let people manipulate the relationship to serve their own agendas,” he explained.
He also responded to the recent defections from the PDP to the APC, describing them as unfortunate. However, he insisted that those who left could not credibly claim they were unfairly treated.
“It’s always painful to lose people, even one. But none of them can say the party wronged them,” he said.
On the issue of internal disputes, Damagum acknowledged that disagreements are normal in any political organization.
He stressed that while the PDP has faced challenges, it remains a united body. “Conflicts are inevitable in a party, especially one made up of diverse individuals with different interests,” he remarked.
Damagum defended his leadership style as principled and not easily swayed by personal interests.
He attributed much of the criticism he has faced to frustrations following the party’s electoral setbacks, but reassured supporters of his commitment to guiding the PDP with honesty and firm leadership.