PDP Congresses: Don’t Jettison Competence, Loyalty in Sharing Positions – VAN Urges Party

El Ameen Ibrahim

The Victory Advocates of Nigeria (VAN), a national support group of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged the party’s leadership to prioritise competence, loyalty, and inclusion in the sharing of executive committee positions at all levels.

In a statement issued after its monthly meeting held on October 4, 2025, and signed by the National Secretary, Barr. Tunji Aruya, and National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Musa Adamu, VAN expressed deep concern over what it described as the growing internal crises bedevilling the PDP across various states.

According to the statement, reports received from different parts of the country showed that only a few states were free from internal challenges, a situation the group said calls for urgent intervention.

The group specifically urged the party’s national leadership to reach out to the governors of Enugu and Rivers States for genuine realignment and reconciliation efforts aimed at strengthening the PDP’s unity ahead of future elections.

VAN also raised concerns over the conduct of the recent Ekiti State Congress, challenging the State Congress Committee Chairman, Chief Tunde Akindehin, to provide proof of form collection and results for the office of State Youth Leader, where its National President, Prince Seyi Ajibola, was allegedly disenfranchised.

The group maintained that the issue must be resolved to forestall possible legal action, stressing that “an injury to one is an injury to all.”

“Ekiti is a state where credibility, competence and caution must be upheld to avoid unpleasant consequences in the gubernatorial election ahead,” the statement added.

VAN called on the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) to thoroughly review the Ekiti congress process and assess the assignment handled by Chief Akindehin. The group, however, commended the efforts of the NWC, led by Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, for ongoing steps to stabilise the party.

“Graciously, the feedbacks from different states demand that Victory Advocates of Nigeria acknowledges the efforts of NWC members led by Amb. Umar Damagum in making efforts towards fixing the challenges facing the party,” the statement noted.

VAN further expressed appreciation to former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa), for including members of the group in party positions and state cabinets, while calling for greater inclusion moving forward.

The group reminded the PDP leadership that the forthcoming national convention presents an opportunity to “rewrite the many wrongs within the PDP family” and rebuild public trust in the party’s internal democracy.

VAN also reiterated its call for youth empowerment within the party, reminding the leadership of its earlier promise to allocate 10 percent of party positions to youth wings starting from the upcoming convention.

It expressed disappointment over the low level of youth inclusion in the subcommittees released for the convention, urging the leadership to “encourage, motivate and appreciate loyal party members.”

“This can only be achieved through inclusion in party positions and assignments,” VAN stated.