Ondo Polls: Damagum Will Extinguish PDP Unless NEC Acts – Ologbondiyan

Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has warned that the party’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilyasu Damagum, could lead the PDP to collapse unless urgent action is taken. Ologbondiyan emphasized the need for the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to elect a substantive National Chairman from the North Central region during its scheduled meeting on November 28, in line with Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution (2017 Amendment).

Speaking with the G12-Renaissance Group of the PDP in Abuja on Sunday, Ologbondiyan expressed grave concern over the party’s declining fortunes, particularly citing the loss in the recent Ondo State governorship election. He argued that Damagum’s leadership has been marked by consistent failures in off-season elections, warning that upcoming contests in states such as Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun could follow the same path as the defeats in Kogi, Imo, and Ondo.

Ologbondiyan criticized Damagum’s stewardship, stating, “It is reprehensible that the Acting National Chairman is supervising the dishevelling of the party.” He further accused Damagum of showing little interest in ensuring the party’s success at the polls.

The former spokesperson also raised concerns about allegations that Damagum had secretly met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in London. Ologbondiyan called on Damagum to address these claims, stating, “How can the head of the leading opposition party be accused of nicodemusly meeting with the President of the ruling government, and he would have no response to provide?”

Ologbondiyan urged party leaders to act decisively to remove Damagum and his alleged backers from their positions of influence. He stressed that only a revitalized leadership could restore the PDP’s capacity to function effectively as an opposition party.