No ambition is greater than PDP — Party Chair

2026-03-29 - 20:13

By Luminous Jannamike ABUJA — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday moved to steady itself after months of bruising internal crisis, with its Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, urging members to put aside personal interests and focus on rebuilding the party. For a party many had written off as divided and directionless, the tone was deliberate, even as the message was simple: the PDP knows it has taken heavy blows, from infighting to courtroom battles, and that this convention is its chance to reset, restore order, and prove to Nigerians that it can still function as a serious political force. Speaking at the party’s national convention in Abuja, Mohammed presented the gathering as a defining moment for the party’s future. “No ambition is greater than this party. No office is worth the weakening of this platform. “The recent judicial developments... must not be seen as victory for some and defeat for others. Rather, they must remind us that institutions must be guided by law... and that no party can endure outside constitutional order. “We choose inclusiveness over exclusion. We choose unity over division. We choose renewal over decline,” Mohammed said. In a nod to the behind-the-scenes power dynamics within the party, the acting chairman recognised key figures he said played important roles in keeping the PDP afloat during its most difficult moments, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. He also acknowledged former Senate President Bukola Saraki for his counsel and commitment to dialogue, along with governors, lawmakers, elders, and other stakeholders across the country. Mohammed went further to highlight those who pursued legal routes during the crisis, saying their actions helped restore order and reinforce internal processes. “They pursued lawful and constitutional pathways at a time when clarity and direction were required. Their actions have contributed to the restoration of order and the repositioning of our party on the path of renewal,” the PDP chairman said. But beyond the party’s internal battles, he turned to the bigger picture. While much of the speech focused on fixing the party from within, it also looked outward, towards Nigerians dealing with economic and security challenges. “Our people are facing economic hardship, insecurity, and uncertainty about the future. They are not looking for conflict; they are looking for leadership,” he said. He framed the convention as more than just a routine political event, urging members to see it as the starting point of a broader effort to revive the party. “Let this Convention not end as an event; let it begin as a movement. And the question before us is simple: can the PDP rise again? I say, yes, we can. Yes, we must. And yes, we will,” he said.