The acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Illya Umar Damagun, has said that the ongoing struggle for power within the party is not a matter of life or death for him.
He remarked at the recent 98th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja on Thursday, News About Nigeria reports.
Speaking at the National Secretariat, Damagum expressed his calmness amid the recent power struggle within the party. He said that any leadership change wouldn’t diminish his position within the party.
He said, “This is not a matter of life and death. I am still an elected member of this NEC. Even if I revert to deputy national chairman, I’m still a member of the NWC. The issue of surviving or not does not emerge.”
In his reaction, Governor Bala Mohammed, the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, said there is no rancour within the PDP fold.
He said, “You can see there was no dissension and rancour.
“It was planned that the party would have an implosion. PDP is more than that. We have gone beyond all these idiosyncracries. This party is a united party that is guided by experience and constitutionality.
“There were a lot of permutations and mischievous thinking outside there. But we looked at all the issues and we worked along our guidelines and constitution. There is no problem or dissension and problem among members.”
Regarding the selection of a new chairman from the North Central region, Mohammed stated, “In the next two months, we will see a lot of activities. Leadership is a responsibility.”
He said the party would adhere to its guidelines and constitution in the process, ensuring a smooth transition without any discord.
It was earlier reported that Damagun, on Wednesday, successfully held onto his position amidst attempts to remove him.
This followed the decision of the National Caucus of the PDP, to extend his stay.
Damagun, previously the PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), stepped into the role of acting National Chairman following a court decision to suspend the former chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
