PDP governors: Security agencies infiltrating our party to create division

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has accused security agencies of infiltrating the party to create division.

Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi state, spoke on behalf of his colleagues on Monday at the PDP’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

Mohammed said the forum’s meeting, held in Zamfara state on Saturday and attended by various party organs, focused on deepening unity.

“We learn from each other so that we can provide dividends of democracy away from the shenanigans pervading the political space,” he said.

“We are doing very well to ensure that we make our party the darling of Nigerians, where we have shown reticence, capacity, and, of course, unity between us.

“We are really eschewing all temptations and also navigating some of the challenges that most of you are aware of, even within the national working committee, so that we can cautiously and cleverly navigate to convention.

“All the remaining issues of the various congresses have been resolved by the working committee with the help of the governors and other elders.

“Today, I would say our national working committee has signed all the communications to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and we don’t have any issues.

“So we are navigating and working very well, and of course, we will do our best to ensure that this party remains united.

“We must thank our founding fathers; they have been doing very well exercising restraint and even accommodating our excesses—even our party elders at the state level, especially our chairman.

“But I must say and warn that we have had some remote information that some of our party leaders at the state level may be penetrated by security agencies so that they can cause disaffection. So please, we must remain united.”

Mohammed said the governors will do their best to support the NWC and keep the party united.

Umar Damagum, the PDP national chairman, said the party has continued to show resilience and focus in the “face of daunting national challenges”.

He said Nigerians look up to the PDP not only as the “strongest” opposition party but also as the “only credible alternative” capable of restoring hope, equity, and justice to the Nigerian people.

“The confidence reposed in us is a reminder of the weight of responsibility we carry as a party,” he said.

“From one convention to the next, the PDP has consistently shown the internal democracy, inclusivity and respect for collective decision-making, which is our guiding principle.”

Speaking on the call for increased women’s participation in politics, Damagum said the party supports the bill seeking to create reserved seats for women in the national assembly.

“Only recently, the leadership of the national assembly, together with the ministry of women’s affairs, led by the minister of women’s affairs, paid an advocacy visit to the national working committee on the reserve seats for women bill,” he said.

“While assuring them of our full support, I want to remind them and indeed the entire nation that no party has empowered women more than the PDP.

“It is undeniable that women have always been the backbone of this party, mobilising, combating and defending the vote when it matters most.”

Damagum advised party members to elect women during the national convention scheduled for November.