Dare Babalola
A member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Jude Imagwe, has written an open letter to the party’s national chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, calling for his resignation amidst the party’s decline.
In the letter he personally signed on Tuesday, Imagwe expressed pain and concern over the party’s current state, citing a decline in performance, defections, and internal disarray. He attributed the party’s woes to Damagum’s leadership, describing it as “timid” and “governance by absence”.
Imagwe wrote, “This letter is written not in anger, but in pain, the pain of watching a once-great political institution slowly suffocate under the weight of avoidable failures and timid leadership.”
He highlighted the party’s loss of voice, coordination, and conviction, and called for a change in leadership to revive the party.
“The statistics of decline are no longer deniable, they are visible in every state, every ward, every election result. Under your watch, the PDP has recorded the largest wave of defections in its history,” the concerned party member added.
Imagwe cited examples of former party leaders who resigned to save the party from deeper fracture, and urged Damagum to follow suit.
He wrote, “Chief Audu Ogbeh resigned in 2005 when his conscience could no longer align with the direction of leadership. Alhaji Bamanga Tukur stepped aside in 2014 to save the party from deeper fracture. Prince Uche Secondus faced internal turbulence but still yielded in the spirit of preserving PDP unity.”
He emphasized that resignation is not surrender, but responsibility, and that Damagum’s continued stay in office would deepen the fracture.
The PDP chieftain continued, “If you cannot lift the party, do not pull it down. Resignation is not surrender, it is responsibility. It is an honourable act that tells history that you cared more for the legacy of the PDP than the comfort of your position.”
Imagwe concluded, “The People’s Democratic Party deserves a leadership that acts, that speaks, that listens, and that unites. We need a chairman who commands trust, not just title a leader who can rebuild faith, heal divisions, and awaken the spirit of service that once defined our movement.”
Recently, several notable politicians have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), sparking concerns about the opposition party’s internal cohesion.
Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and other prominent figures have made the switch, citing various reasons such as marginalization, political strategy, and personal interests.
This wave of defections has led to speculation about the PDP’s future and its ability to remain a viable opposition force in Nigerian politics.
