PDP Laments Inability To Function As Opposition Party Due To Internal Crisis

By Ayodele Oni

Factional Acting National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, has charged that the Party should be ready and willing to play the role of effective opposition to develop democracy and seek for responsible and responsive government in our country.

He stated in his first statement on Monday, after a faction within the party announced his appointment as a replacement to Damagun, that the PDP in the past has not lived up to the expectation of Nigerians as an opposition party.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, on Thursday, October 10, 2024 appointed me as the Acting National Chairman to lead the charge to rekindle the hope and aspiration of our teeming members especially the youths, critical stakeholders and generality of Nigerians who wish to see a political Party that is ready and willing to play the role of effective opposition in the quest to develop our democracy and seek for responsible and responsive government in our country.

“The NWC under my leadership will be guided strictly by the Constitution of our Party and I will at all times be fair to all members irrespective of their status, position or state in the Party. Only this will guarantee and engender loyalty and commitment of our teeming members.

“The domestic events within our Party in the last few days calls for deep reflection about the management of the PDP especially at this crucial time in our nation, particularly as it relates to our role as an opposition Party and general management as a Constitution Compliant Party in the true spirit of the mission and vision of the founding fathers which are equity, fairness and justice.

“Regrettably, we must admit that we have not satisfactorily carried out the critical role expected of a virile opposition in a democracy.

“This, it has been observed is as a result of conflict on interests; – personal or political – elevated above Party interest which continues to have debilitating effect on the ability of our Party to perform effectively at various levels, particularly at the national level.

“This state of affairs continues to affect the performance and viability of our Party to perform its role as expected as a platform which Nigerians have come to admire and looked up to in view of the robust Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and the monumental achievements of the Party in the sixteen years in government.