PDP LEADERS ADMIT, SAYS “WE WOUNDED OURSELVES”

In an extraordinary moment of political introspection, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conceded yesterday that the crises undermining their party were largely self-inflicted. This rare confession came during a high-level consultative conference of PDP Founding Fathers and Stakeholders in Abuja, themed “Reclaiming Our Legacy, Renewing Our Collective Vision.”
The gathering, held ahead of today’s NEC meeting, was attended by political giants—former governors, ministers, and lawmakers. Bauchi Governor and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed, bluntly told attendees: “Yes, this crisis is self-inflicted, but it is not terminal. We can bounce back.”
Acting PDP National Chairman, Ambassador Illiya Damagum, echoed the sentiment. “Much of the injury the PDP has suffered has been self-inflicted. But we’re still standing.”
Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, struck a defiant tone. “This party is not dead. It cannot be buried. We’ve done it before—for 16 years—and we will do it again.”
Despite the motivational speeches, defections to the ADC and APC have severely weakened the PDP’s federal presence. Still, the meeting ended with renewed calls for a credible national convention and a transparent leadership process.
Prof. Jerry Gana, a founding party figure, challenged the PDP to open its doors to the youth and to present a “credible, tested” presidential candidate for 2027. He and others warned that the party’s legacy hinges on its ability to reinvent itself.