God will judge me if I am working for APC, says PDP chair, Damagum

. ‘I’ve never defected from PDP since 1999,’ Damagum maintains

Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ambassador Umar Damagum, on Friday, denied allegations of working with the ruling All Progressives Congress to undermine his party.

Damagum also defended his relationship with former Rivers State governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, following allegations by some party members that he is collaborating with Wike to destroy the PDP.

Damagum, in an interview with BBC Hausa, also reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP.

He expressed strong commitment to the ideals of the main opposition party.

Apparently referring to allegations that he met with President Bola Tinubu in London, Damagum swore, “May God judge us, if I am working for the APC.”

The PDP national Chairman stressed his long-standing commitment to his party, saying, “I have a history, since I joined the PDP in 1999, I have never defected. Those who dislike me will have to find ways to either praise or criticise me to get what they want.”

Responding to the critics of his relationship with Wike, the PDP national Chairman, acknowledged the association between him and the FCT Minister, but stressed there was nothing wrong about that.

“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 said.

Damagum also expressed disappointment with some members of his party for defecting to the ruling APC, describing the development as a great loss to the main opposition party.

“We must be sad. Whenever you lose someone, you don’t feel happy, even if it’s just one person you’re grieving for,” he said.

He insisted that none of the defectors could claim they were wronged in any way by the PDP.

On internal divisions within the main opposition party, Damagum noted that disagreements are bound to occur in any political organisation, stressing that the PDP remains united.

“PDP is one. There are internal problems, because a party never lacks problems because its leaders are people, and people are in it, and everyone has their own interests,” he said.

The PDP national Chairman defended his leadership style, stressing that he would remain committed and adhere to principles without yielding to individuals’ whims and caprices.