PDP inaugurates new BoT, vows return to rule of law and internal democracy

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today inaugurated a new Board of Trustees (BoT), marking what leaders described as a “turning point” and “rebirth” for Nigeria’s main opposition party.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammad, declared that the new BoT would serve as the moral compass of the PDP, pledging that the era of impunity, internal disunity, and disregard for party rules was over.

“Today marks a significant turning point in the life of our great party,” Muhammad said. “We have come together, not merely to inaugurate a new Board of Trustees, but to renew our faith in the ideals that gave birth to this great political family — justice, fairness, inclusivity, and respect for the rule of law.”

The Acting Chairman took a reflective tone as he addressed the internal crises that have rocked the PDP in recent years, citing leadership disputes and constitutional violations that, according to him, weakened the party’s moral foundation.

He particularly referenced the tenure of the former BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, whose suspension by the Abia State chapter over alleged anti-party activities “became a necessary but painful step.” Muhammad stated that the former BoT’s credibility had been “heavily questioned,” rendering it ineffective as a unifying force.

Similarly, he criticized the leadership of the suspended National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, accusing his administration of “choosing convenience over the constitution and personal loyalty over the rule of law.”

“When any political party begins to disregard its own constitution and laws, it loses the very soul that holds it together,” he warned. “That was the painful reality we faced.”

Muhammad commended three party members who had gone to court to challenge recent decisions, describing their legal action as an act of conscience aimed at saving the PDP from further decay. He quoted their declaration — “We acted not to destroy, but to redeem; not to divide, but to heal” — as a moral guide for the new leadership.

According to the Acting Chairman, the recent judgment of the Federal High Court which led to the reconstitution of the BoT was not an attack on the PDP but “a wake-up call to return to our roots.”

He charged the newly inaugurated BoT members to uphold justice, unity, and truth, stressing that their appointment was “not a reward for loyalty but a sacred trust.”

“The Board will once again serve as the conscience and compass of this great party,” Muhammad said. “Your voices must be voices of unity, your advice must be rooted in fairness, and your actions must inspire confidence in our collective future.”

The PDP leader acknowledged that the party’s decline began years earlier, citing the abandonment of zoning arrangements before the 2015 elections and the rise of personal ambition over equity as key turning points.

“But God, in His wisdom, has given us another chance — a second chance to rebuild,” he said. “Under this new leadership, the PDP will never again be held hostage by impunity, manipulation, or disregard for its constitution.”

Muhammad promised that the party would henceforth respect court judgments, ensure transparent congresses, and restore public trust.

“We cannot continue to hide under the old excuse that ‘party matters are internal affairs,’” he said. “Internal affairs must still operate under constitutional order. Party autonomy cannot mean lawlessness.”

He urged the new BoT and all party members to embrace unity and reform, declaring: “Let history record that when the PDP stood at the edge of the precipice, men and women of goodwill rose to pull it back.”

The inauguration was attended by members of the National Working Committee, party elders, and other stakeholders, signaling what many described as a renewed commitment to repositioning the PDP as a credible alternative in Nigeria’s democratic space.