“PDP is one big family, no factions” — Bala
Chairman of the Governors Forum of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, has emphasized that the PDP remains united and free from any factions.
The declaration was made by the Governor of Bauchi on Friday at the Government House while responding to questions from journalists.
This comes as the leadership crisis within the party intensifies, fueled by a wave of suspicions announced on Thursday and Friday by two factions of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Bala spoke during a visit from the embattled Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, who led PDP Chairmen from the North East to the Government House in Bauchi. This visit comes amid reports that Umar Damagum has been suspended.
There were reports that a faction of the National Working Committee of PDP had suspended Umar Damagum and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu from offices, for alleged disloyalty to the party, and announced Ahmed Yayari, from Gombe State as Damagum’s replacement.
Earlier, a faction of the NWC aligned with Umar Damagum also announced the suspension of the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, and the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for alleged disloyalty to the party.
Despite these suspensions, Bala Mohammed maintained that the party remained intact and capable of addressing its internal crises.
According to him, “I would say that we have met and discussed these situations extensively with the Acting National Chairman and we have agreed to work together along with other party organs –the BOT, the members of the Governors’ Forum, the Caucus of the Senate and the House of Representatives to resolve all these issues and that is the major take away of this visit.”
Bala Mohammed assured that the party would deepened stockholdings and collaboration to address every issue disparaging members.
He described as perceptions, allegations of party disloyalty levelled against Umar Damagum and a reported plan to impeach him (Governor Mohammed) as Chairman of Governors’ Forum saying, “These are just manifestations because of body language.”
Bala Mohammed stressed that, “We have discussed everything on relationships and interrelations and disagreements and we have decided that henceforth we will not allow gaps”
He however egretted his disagreement with Umar Damagum saying it had been costly on both sides.
“I took a position that was against him and certainly you are going to have these disparaging manifestations that we have now decided henceforth we will not allow it,” he said.
He berated Journalists for creating imaginary divisions in the PDP whereas there is none adding that, “We are not recognising any faction.”
He said, “We are together as a party and we will definitely resolve all our issues. There is no faction in the PDP. That is the benefit of doubt that Damgum has done to me by coming and agreeing that we should do that.
“The final decision does not rest on two of us but other members that are stakeholders within the PDP Governors’ forum, within the BOT and within the caucus and other stakeholders in the party,” he added