The recent circulation of a report alleging that Umar Iliya Damagum has described the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as a “headless party”, has signalled his intention to defect to the ADC and as a result met with Sen. David Mark, is not only false but a calculated act of political mischief, orchestrated by disgruntled and envious elements determined to tarnish the reputation of a man whose integrity they cannot match.
Ambassador Umar iliya Damagum, is the immediate past PDP National Chairman. His character, credibility and conscience is not in doubt and he remains as the last man standing in the party and will not leave PDP for any unreasonable reason.
Let it be stated clearly and without ambiguity: at no point did Ambassador Damagum made such remarks about the PDP. At no time did he signal any intention to abandon the party. And at no place did he visit or meet with David Mark or anyone. The story is entirely fabricated—devoid of facts, bereft of credibility, and rooted in desperation.
The attempt to rope respected political figure like ambassador Damagum into this concocted tale only exposes the extent to which the purveyors of this falsehood are willing to go in their campaign of calumny and distortion.
Amadi contends that, at no point Ambassador Damagum, made any public or official statement that supports such grave assertions. “This is not just a misrepresentation; it is a deliberate distortion designed to weaken public confidence in a man who has consistently demonstrated loyalty, restraint, and political maturity,” he asserts. He further emphasizes that in Nigeria’s charged political climate, it is not uncommon for vested interests to weaponize misinformation in pursuit of narrow agendas.
But Ambassador Damagum is a principled and steadfast political actor whose record speaks louder than any speculative report. He is “a man of uncommon integrity, who has remained ideologically consistent even in the face of intense political pressure and inducement.” This, Amadi argues, is not mere rhetoric but a demonstrable reality, evidenced by Damagum’s repeated refusal to defect to the APC despite what he characterizes as “persistent overtures and strategic incentives.”
Nigerians, party faithful, and the general public must therefore exercise vigilance. Not every sensational headline deserves belief. Not every circulating report is grounded in truth. In this case, the facts are clear: This rebuttal is not merely a defence of one man’s reputation; it is a defence of truth against falsehood, of integrity against manipulation, and of institutional order against reckless distortion.
In conclusion, I urge all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard this fabricated report in its entirety. It is a malicious construct, designed to mislead and provoke. Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum remains, as he has always been, a principled actor in Nigeria’s political space—loyal to his party, committed to democratic tenet, and guided by values that cannot be compromised
In a democracy, truth must not be sacrificed on the altar of expediency and convenience. And desperation must never be allowed to masquerade as truth.