The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has taken a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In an ironic statement, Damagum, at a media briefing, urged the ruling party to “continue harassing and buying our members.”
Briefing journalists on Wednesday, after the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, Damagum said the 2027 election will be between Nigerians and the APC.
“To APC, I want to send a message; that you can continue to harass and buy our members. But the 2027 election is between Nigerians and APC.
So, it is better to start now and correct your ways.
“Hunger, insecurity, arbitrary extortion of Nigerians is more than overwhelming. So, we are in a democratic setting. We should hear the yearning of people.
“Like I said earlier, we are not conquered. We are law-abiding citizens. We deserve to be heard. For democracy to thrive, people must say their minds. People should be listened to and policies should be people-oriented. It’s not for the few,” Damagum said.
The party chairman insisted that the PDP leadership was intact, contrary to the deepening divisions in the party.
“This is what you can see in this NWC. And I keep reiterating this is the only party in the country that has lasted this long.
We have mastered the act of conflict resolution. We know our problems and we solve them within ourselves.
“To those that are contemplating (defection), they should know that there is no place and there is nowhere that will be as accommodating as our party. But if they feel… I will wish them good luck. But I know they will come coming back.
“I want to re-emphasise that if you are a member of the PDP, we are drawing a line for those that go to demarket the party.
We will watch them and take appropriate actions at the right time.
“If you believe in this party, you should be an ambassador that protects the fortunes that this party has given to the citizens of this country when it was there.
“As you can see, we are all here as your NWC, as the NWC of this party. We remain united despite all the challenges. We have sat down to discuss all thorny issues and trash them out today.
“We have agreed that we have already, as proposed by the last NEC, that the NEC meeting scheduled for 23rd, 24th and 25th will still hold. To our members, I want to bring good tidings, that your party is intact,” the party chairman said.