Babangida Aliyu: Political nomads who left PDP must join the queue when they return

Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger, has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against encouraging the return of members who previously left its fold.

Speaking on Wednesday at the PDP consultative conference in Abuja, Aliyu said those who abandoned the party for other political platforms were “nomadic politicians” whose actions deepened the PDP’s internal crisis.

The former governor said several candidates who emerged at the party’s Port Harcourt convention were defectors.

Aliyu also blamed the PDP’s recurring challenges on a lack of discipline and the elevation of personal interests over collective goals.

“Both the chairman and the chairman of governors’ forum have been very diplomatic and saying, ‘come back, come back’,” he said.

“No, you don’t invite nomadic politicians back to your party. These were people with a history of nomadism.

“We cannot keep on, knowing that the black sheep in the family keeps on destroying whatever we are building. And then you say, ‘come back’. In fact, the most shocking time period was 2019.”

He emphasised the need to reward loyal party members instead of defectors who frequently switch alliances.

Aliyu reminded members that the PDP constitution requires returning defectors to “join the queue”.

He called on the party to embrace “real, principled politics,” even if such an approach did not guarantee immediate electoral wins.

Umar Damagum, acting national chairman of the PDP, said the party is suffering because members have disregarded ideals in favour of personal ambition.

Damagum described the internal wrangling in the party as “self-inflicted,” saying he hopes those leaving the party will “rediscover” themselves and return.

The PDP national chairman also cautioned members against demarketing the party and affiliating with another political group.