PDP Convention Will Hold Nov 15 - Damagum Insists

Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, has dismissed reports suggesting that the party’s forthcoming national convention has been postponed.

He insisted that the event will go on as scheduled.

The convention, which is expected to hold on November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, has been the subject of conflicting court rulings and internal leadership disputes within the main opposition party.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary and Secretary of the Publicity and Communication Sub-Committee of the National Convention, the PDP said it would not be deterred by what it described as a “campaign of misinformation” orchestrated by detractors.

“The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to false claims suggesting that our national convention has been postponed. We categorically state that the convention will hold as planned in Ibadan,” Ologunagba said.

He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring fake news to destabilise the PDP ahead of the crucial event, alleging a plot to impose a one-party system in the country.

“We are aware of the plots by the APC to undermine democracy and weaken the opposition, but such attempts will be lawfully resisted,” he added.

The development comes amid a fresh wave of internal suspensions within the party’s leadership ranks.

The Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) had recently suspended Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary, alongside other key officials. In a swift reaction, Anyanwu’s faction, believed to be backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, retaliated by suspending Damagum and several members of the NWC.

The faction also announced Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting national chairman, citing the need to restore order within the party’s leadership structure.

The deepening rift has been further complicated by conflicting court orders, with an Abuja Federal High Court restraining the PDP from conducting the convention, while an Oyo State High Court ordered the party to proceed.

Despite the legal uncertainty, Damagum has maintained that the convention will proceed as scheduled, assuring party members and stakeholders of adequate preparations.

“The National Convention Organising Committee and the entire party leadership are working round the clock to ensure a successful, transparent, and unifying convention,” he affirmed.

The upcoming convention is expected to produce a new set of national officers and could determine the direction of the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.