The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has come under scrutiny following accusations of holding a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
This alleged meeting has raised concerns among PDP members, with critics questioning his commitment to the party’s goals as the leading opposition force in Nigeria.
Former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, voiced his dissatisfaction with Damagum’s leadership, accusing him of failing to take sufficient interest in the party’s success. “How can the head of the main opposition party be implicated in a private meeting with the President from the ruling government, yet offer no explanation or response to party members?” he questioned.
Ologbondiyan called on senior PDP figures to take action, urging them to step in and restore stability within the party. He expressed disappointment over the current direction of the PDP under Damagum’s oversight. “It is disheartening to see the Acting National Chairman presiding over the fragmentation of the party,” he stated, adding that Damagum appears to lack genuine interest in steering the PDP towards electoral victories.
Further expressing his concerns, Ologbondiyan warned that the party could suffer setbacks in upcoming elections unless decisive changes are made in its leadership. Without a permanent National Chairman, he argued, future off-cycle elections—such as those expected in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun—could end with similar outcomes as the recent elections in Kogi, Imo, and Ondo, where the PDP faced challenges. He underscored the need for strong, dedicated leadership to guide the party forward and reinforce its role as a viable alternative to the ruling government.
