Amid mounting internal tensions and speculations of defections, the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, has issued a stern but conciliatory message to party members engaging in dual political loyalties.

Addressing the Consultative Conference of Founding Fathers and Stakeholders on Wednesday in Abuja, Damagum urged such individuals to either fully recommit to the PDP or leave the party altogether, warning that “coalition is an aberration.”

Speaking before a gathering of party elders, serving governors, lawmakers, and other critical stakeholders at the NAF Conference Centre, Damagum made a passionate call for discipline, unity, and ideological clarity. He reaffirmed PDP’s resolve to rebuild itself as a true national platform for democratic governance, noting that the party’s founding vision must be upheld if it is to reclaim its rightful place in Nigeria’s political leadership.

“You cannot be in PDP and in coalition with another party. We cannot do this,” Damagum declared. “If you are going, don’t market us. Most of you actualised your political aspirations through this party. We are telling you — come back. But if you must go, do so with clarity, not duplicity.”

He emphasised that while the PDP remains open to those who genuinely wish to return, it would no longer tolerate what he described as “double game politics.”

“You can’t belong to two parties at once. You are either with us or you’re not. If you’re not, kindly leave and stop destabilising our ranks,” he said.

Recalling the sacrifices of the party’s founding fathers — such as Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Solomon Lar, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, and Professor Jerry Gana — Damagum described the PDP as a child of national necessity, born out of resistance to dictatorship and sustained by the ideals of inclusivity and national consensus. He admitted that the party had suffered from self-inflicted wounds and internal indiscipline. However, he insisted that it still holds the moral and structural foundation to lead Nigeria out of its current economic and political woes.

“We have spent too much time trying to reconcile. Now, we must truly do it — and move forward,” he said.

In his solidarity remarks, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, echoed Damagum’s sentiment, reinforcing the need for unity and ideological loyalty. He commended the efforts of PDP governors across the country and cautioned against the temptation to defect to parties without tangible political structures.

“How is it smart to leave PDP — a party with history, structures, governors, and national presence — for a party with no offices?” Mohammed queried. “Some of those leaving today were once accommodated, even after they caused our loss in 2015. We don’t want to insult them. But if you have to go, don’t disparage the PDP.”

The Bauchi governor called on party elders and defectors to return and help rebuild the party they helped establish, stressing that the PDP still represents the only credible national platform with a genuine commitment to good governance, inclusion, and democratic progress.

He also praised the efforts of PDP governors, such as Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), among others, for their impactful governance, which he said stands in sharp contrast to the failings of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Also speaking at the conference, former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki advised against abandoning the party in anger. Drawing from personal experience, Saraki urged members to remain and join the rebuilding process, saying: “Leaving PDP should not be an option. The option is being fair to everyone. We can resolve our differences and move forward.”

Saraki acknowledged internal grievances but maintained that the PDP’s strength lies in its capacity to self-correct and rally around shared ideals.

“Let us agree to fix what is broken. I will never give up. I am a fighter — and I believe we can restore PDP to its past glory,” he added.

The conference, seen by many observers as a strategic realignment for the PDP ahead of its upcoming National Convention, was also used to reaffirm commitment to inclusive leadership, policy-driven politics, and credible opposition to the APC government.