The Acting National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, has called for unity and ideological renewal within the party, declaring that the PDP was born out of a national necessity to dismantle dictatorship and restore democratic governance.

Damagum made this known on Wednesday while addressing party elders, founding members, and stakeholders at the Consultative Conference of Founding Fathers and Stakeholders held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.

In a speech laced with both personal reflection and political candour, the PDP chairman reaffirmed the party’s foundational ideals and underscored its continued relevance in Nigeria’s democratic landscape.

“I do not stand before you merely as Acting National Chairman, but as a product of this party’s founding vision,” Damagum said, referencing his political mentorship under the late Alhaji Adamu Ciroma. “This gathering reaffirms that the PDP is not only alive but resolute and ready to reclaim its central place in Nigerian politics.”

Paying tribute to PDP founding leaders such as Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Solomon Lar, and others, Damagum described them as patriots whose sacrifices laid the foundation for Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

According to him, “The PDP was not born out of convenience. It was born out of necessity to dismantle dictatorship and restore democratic governance. We must not forget that many of our heroes faced threats, harassment, and even detention to keep this dream alive.”

The PDP leader acknowledged internal challenges, referencing the 2013 crisis that led to major defections and ongoing divisions. However, he stressed that these setbacks had not erased the party’s core strength and enduring vision.

“History reminds us that movements built on expediency collapse under pressure. The PDP remains the only political platform in Nigeria with a foundation built on national consensus and ideological clarity,” he said.

In a rare moment of self-examination, Damagum admitted that many of the party’s wounds have been self-inflicted, citing instances where personal ambition was placed above ideology. Nonetheless, he expressed optimism that the PDP’s internal democratic culture and national spread remain strong pillars for rebuilding.

He also extended a call for reconciliation, urging former members to return to the party’s fold. “Our doors remain open to those who wish to return. Many found their political beginning here—and may still find their purpose here,” he noted.

Touching on the state of the nation, Damagum criticised the current administration over the worsening economic situation, declining democratic values, and widespread disillusionment among Nigerian youths.

“The cost of living is unbearable. The youth are disillusioned. The economy is stagnating. In times like these, the PDP must rise again—as a vessel of hope and a voice of reason,” he said.

Describing the stakeholders’ meeting as more than a formality, Damagum called it a “strategic reckoning” and urged the party to recommit to its founding values of discipline, loyalty, and policy-based leadership.

“We must leave here not just with words, but with the resolve to rebuild. The PDP still holds the moral and structural strength to redeem Nigeria’s battered democracy,” he affirmed.

He concluded with a rallying call to party members nationwide: “Let it be known, we will rise to the challenge. And yes the centre will hold again.”