The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s leading opposition party, has expressed its desire to reconnect with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), in hopes of encouraging his return to the party that significantly contributed to his political career.
In a recent interview, PDP’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun, addressed Kwankwaso’s recent comments labeling the PDP as “dead” and suggesting it lacks the capability for future success.
Damagun emphasized the PDP’s readiness to welcome back all former members, including Kwankwaso, noting that his criticisms may not fully reflect the party’s enduring strength.
He pointed out that Kwankwaso previously achieved political success while part of the PDP, making his current remarks seem somewhat unjust.
Highlighting the party’s resilience, Damagun noted that the PDP has remained operational for 26 years, consistently presenting a united front with governors and senators from across Nigeria.
He argued that even if four other political parties were to merge, they would still struggle to match the PDP’s considerable influence.
“Everyone is entitled to their perspective, but I urge him to reflect on history. When they departed the PDP in 2015, the party did not collapse as they anticipated. I see no reason to claim it is dead now,” Damagun asserted.
He added, “We must remember that the PDP is still the only party capable of winning elections, apart from the ruling APC.”
In response to Kwankwaso’s claims of feeling sidelined within the PDP, which prompted him to dismiss any plans to work with the party for the upcoming 2027 elections, Damagun acknowledged that some of Kwankwaso’s grievances were indeed valid.
He recounted that during Kwankwaso’s earlier attempts to leave the PDP, he, serving as the party’s deputy national chairman for the North at the time, made significant efforts to address the issues but ultimately could not reach a resolution.
