PDP Delegates Ratify Damagum as Substantive National Chairman

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded a crucial internal leadership matter at its ongoing 2025 national convention in Ibadan, confirming Ambassador Umar Damagum as the substantive National Chairman of the party. The decision was taken by the party’s delegates who voted unanimously to ratify Damagum’s position, ending his prolonged tenure in an acting capacity.

The motion to formally ratify Damagum’s leadership was introduced by Tony Abineri, the Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the party, who spoke on behalf of the estimated 3,000 delegates present at the convention ground. The motion was swiftly seconded by party official Edward Marshal, establishing the consensus among the party’s key decision-makers.

Abineri confirmed that the action was carried out in strict accordance with the party’s legal framework. “I moved the motion for the ratification of Umaru Damagum as the substantive National Chairman of the party,” he stated, adding the critical legal context: “This is in accordance with the Section 32 of the Constitution of the PDP as amended.” This ratification ensures the stability of the party leadership as the PDP navigates its internal workings and strategizes for future electoral contests.

While the two-day convention, holding on November 15 and 16, was widely expected to include a voting exercise to formally elect a new chairman, the decision by the delegates to unanimously ratify Damagum signals a successful effort by the party’s organs to achieve internal consensus on leadership matters. Damagum had previously been confirmed by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in August to hold the substantive position ahead of the convention. The delegates’ motion now serves as the final, binding resolution from the highest decision-making body of the party, strengthening Damagum’s mandate and authority to lead the PDP forward.