The acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has blamed the party’s suffering state on members’ resolve to prioritised personal ambition above party ideology

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting of the party’s founding members and stakeholders, Damagum described the internal wrangling in the party as “self-inflicted”, hoping that those leaving the party will retrace their steps and return
He warned members against demarketing the party and affiliating with another political group.

“It is either you are a PDP member or not, as you cannot belong to two political parties at a time, ” Damagum said.

“But we must also confront the hard truth: Much of the injury the PDP has suffered has been self-inflicted. From the Obasanjo era, presidency, to this moment, we have too often jettisoned ideology in favour of personal ambition.

“However, let it be said and known that our doors remain open to those who wish to return, and it is my earnest prayer that in their return, they may rediscover themselves. After all, we are still the party that gave many their first political home,” he said.

In his words, Bauchi State Governor, and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, cautioned that it is not a “smart move” for anyone to leave PDP for another party, given its history, legacy and structure.

“If someone wants to leave PDP to go to another place, how is this a smart move in thought and thinking?’ he asked

”because we are being haunted, and we know what we are going through, and it is not for us to be cowardly and talk about it, ” he said.