October 21, (THEWILL) — The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened, following a call for the immediate resignation of the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.
In an open letter dated October 20, 2025, a former Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, and ex-National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Jude Gabriel Imagwe, described Damagum’s leadership as a failure and a loss of direction within the party, and accused him of leading the once-dominant opposition party into decline.
Titled “Since You Cannot Lift the Party, Don’t Pull It Down — Resign Now and Let PDP Breathe Again”, Imagwe expressed concern that the PDP, once celebrated as the bastion of Nigeria’s democracy and a model of political organisation across Africa, had lost its vibrancy and direction under Damagum’s leadership.
He lamented the erosion of the PDP’s political strength and moral authority, blaming it on what he termed “timid and indifferent leadership” at the top.
“Under your watch, the PDP has recorded the largest wave of defections in its history. Governors, senators, and grassroots loyalists have walked away not because they stopped believing in the PDP, but because the PDP stopped believing in itself”, he wrote.
The party loyalist accused the current leadership of failing to act decisively in moments of crisis, arguing that the national secretariat had become “a breeding ground for factional disputes rather than a centre of reconciliation.”
“When crises called for courage, you offered caution. When the party needed renewal, you chose routine. We no longer resemble a party of the people, but a tired bureaucracy feeding on memories of the past,” he added.
Imagwe cited historical precedents of past PDP leaders who resigned to preserve party unity, including Chief Audu Ogbeh, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and Prince Uche Secondus.
“Honour in leadership is not in how long you stay, but in knowing when to go”, he said.
Imagwe urged Damagum to follow the path of honour by stepping aside to allow new leadership to rebuild the party’s foundation and restore members’ confidence.
“Resignation is not surrender; it is responsibility. It tells history that you cared more for the legacy of the PDP than the comfort of your position.”
Imagwe called for a renewal of purpose within the PDP, asserting that only bold and visionary leadership could revive the party’s relevance ahead of future elections.
“You cannot lead a revival from a seat of retreat. Do the needful. Take the honourable path. Resign now and let the PDP breathe again”, he declared.
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