According to Umar Damagum, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) acting chairman, the National Working Committee led by him will not expel or suspend any “disloyal” members.

In response to recommendations from some PDP stakeholders, Damagum is being asked to discipline people such as Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, and others for allegedly participating in anti-party activities during the most recent general elections.

Addressing the PDP Mobilisers Group in Abuja, Damagum dismissed these suggestions, revealing that the NWC had authorized the formation of a committee aimed at reviewing and reconciling all dissatisfied members.

He stressed that the party’s primary focus lay in reconciliation and the expansion of its membership base, rather than penalizing individuals for alleged anti-party actions, which, in his view, could potentially harm the party.

He said, “They are always telling you these people are not doing the right thing. But when you are in a position of leadership, you are bound by a set of rules, and these rules even though they are itching you, you don’t apply them; not because of anything, but so that you don’t destroy the house.

“I have been seeing the agitations within our platforms saying the NWC was not doing this or doing that. This is an opportunity for me to explain.

“Somebody has said sometimes when you are not knowledgeable about certain things and you go on saying about your thinking, it will always injure the sensibility of others to understand you.”

He said, “I am very proud to say that this party was started by me as a driver. Today, I am the acting national chairman by the grace of God. I have never calculated that I will be given this title. I believe in this party, I believe that this party is the best in this country.

“The NWC has already come up and approved a 2023 election review and reconciliation committee. They will go and investigate. We’ll give them the mandate to form subcommittees. However, there is only one national committee that will review the 2023 election and also review from 2015 to 2019. This is so that at the end of the day when they bring the reports, we will meet and take decisions.”

Damagum, who admitted that many members were involved in anti-party activities at different levels, said, “If I said we should start suspension, I will end up suspending many people because they were involved in anti-party activities. So, please bear with us. We intend to keep this party together and to manage it. This is my mandate.

“When a substantive chairman comes, he can decide to suspend or dismiss anybody. But myself as somebody who loves this party, somebody who started this party, I think we need even those from the other side to come back and join.”