Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has criticised the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under its suspended National Chairman, Umar Damagum, saying the party has lost direction and was almost extinct.
Speaking at a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, Fayose said the suspension of Damagum and the appointment of Mohammed Abdulrahman as the acting national chairman marked a new beginning for the opposition party.
Fayose said the PDP was in a hopeless state, adding that there was currently no sign of the party recovering.
He explained that many of its key members were leaving.
“Even the captains of our boats are jumping ship and moving from one camp to another. Who will hold the party together?”
He lamented that the party had almost gone extinct under Damagum’s leadership, describing his National Working Committee as undertakers who came to bury the PDP.
According to him, despite being on their way out, the committee continued to suspend and counter-suspend members.
Fayose, however, expressed a little optimism, saying there might still be hope in the new acting chairman.
“You never can tell, Abdulrahman may be the doctor who will revive the party. But as of now, the PDP is in a coma,” he said.
“If someone steps forward to rescue the party, like Abdulrahman has done, we will give him a chance. That’s why I earlier urged him to go ahead and revive the PDP. We are glad to have a new acting national chairman, Abdulrahman, who emerged on Saturday following the suspension of the former chairman, and we believe he has the confidence of the party to lead at this time.”
Fayose recalled that Damagum’s situation was similar to that of former PDP chairman Iyorchia Ayu, predicting that he would also not return to office.
He said Damagum was only meant to serve temporarily but manipulated the process to become chairman, creating confusion within the party.
Fayose said Damagum had shown clear incompetence and lacked the ability to lead the party effectively.
He urged the new acting chairman, Abdulrahman, to reorganize the PDP, fix issues in state chapters, and prepare for the national convention.
He added that once the recent court ruling directing congresses in all state chapters is followed, Abdulrahman’s position would be legally recognized, ensuring stability since Damagum’s suspension followed due process.
