The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has defended his relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, amid growing internal criticism, while firmly rejecting allegations of incompetence and collusion with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Friday, Damagum dismissed claims suggesting he is acting in the interest of the APC or serving as a political proxy.
“May God be the judge between me and whoever slandered me, and may God judge us, if I am working for the APC,” he said, responding to speculations that he had a secret meeting with President Bola Tinubu in England.
The PDP chairman reiterated his longstanding loyalty to the opposition party, noting that he has remained a committed member since 1999 and has never defected.
Amid growing unease within the party over his perceived closeness to Wike—an influential figure now serving under the APC government—Damagum admitted to knowing the minister but rejected the narrative that the relationship undermines the PDP’s credibility.
“For all those who accuse me of having links with the Minister of FCT, I know him or have had links with him, and many of them have had links with him. My only fault here is that I did not allow them to do what they wanted with him,” he stated.
Damagum also addressed the recent defection of some PDP members to the APC, describing the losses as unfortunate but refuting claims that those who left were sidelined or mistreated under his leadership.
On the internal wrangling within the PDP, Damagum acknowledged the presence of disagreements but maintained that such differences are a normal part of political life and do not signal disunity.
“There will always be disagreements in every political setting, but we remain one family in the PDP,” he said.
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