A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives, Ikenga Ugochinyere, has accused the Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagun, of plotting to destroy the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
To this end, he called on the governors, lawmakers and other leaders of the PDP to rise up and speak out in order to save the party from those he called agents of the APC.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, the lawmaker said all the steps taken by Damagun after the last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party indicated that he was out to destroy the party.
He pointed out that the PDP, under the leadership of Damagun, has gone to court to file a suit opposing the prayers to declare the seats of the 27 lawmakers from Rivers State who defected to the APC vacant on the ground that it was only the party that could determine who its members are.
Ugochinyere insisted that Damagum was a clear and present danger to the PDP and its survival, stressing that he has now come out openly and was no longer disguising that his loyalty is with the All Progressives Congress (APC)
The lawmaker noted that after the legal adviser of the party initially denied the suit, “we can confirm to you that the processes were filed by Dr. Joshua Musa, even though the party earlier filed a suit asking the court to declare the seats vacant.
“The PDP is now approbating and reprobating at the same time. So, what happened? When was this new alliance forged? When did the PDP start defending the defected lawmakers? What are the terms of that negotiation? Are the terms in the interest of the PDP or APC, the new party of the now-former members?,” he queried.
Ugochinyere alleged that the PDP chairman secured an ex parte order that he should remain in office “using APC members who are parading as PDP members.”
He stated: “Since after the NEC meeting, which agreed for a peaceful exit for Damagun at the next NEC meeting that will come in a few months, which will see the emergence of a candidate from North Central as PDP Chairman, many strange things have been happening.
“Now, in an action that looks like payback, Damagun NWC has hired a pro-APC interest lawyer to file court papers seeking to reinstate sacked APC lawmakers to enable them to attempt the impossible task of attempting to illegally remove Gov. Fubara from the office.
“Also, a strange court action that Damagun NWC is not opposing came out from nowhere, ordering NWC to allow the PDP caretaker list filled with APC members to be inaugurated; strangely, our PDP now allows APC members to take over our party structures. Now, are you thinking what we are thinking?”
Ugochinyere added that Damagun has dragged the PDP to court and obtained an order restraining the party from removing him from office, saying this was after the NEC had fixed August for Damagun to peacefully leave the office.
He said: “PDP governors, senators, and House of Representatives members who are keeping quiet will cry when they come for the entire party to sink it, and then you will be shedding crocodile tears by the time APC members take over your respective states and federal constituencies.
“This is another early warning for the party and those who believe in it to stand up and save the soul of the party before irreversible damage is done to the party.”