Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Edo, Ondo: PDP battle-ready to fight ‘grab-and-steal’ opponents, Damagum declares

“We will not sit down and allow anybody to search, grab, and steal. We will be battle-ready for any thief who rears his head to steal our fortune,” said Mr Damagum.

• June 28, 2024
Damagum and Obaseki
Damagum and Obaseki

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it will be difficult for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo.

The party’s acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, said this while inaugurating the PDP national campaign councils for Edo and Ondo governorship elections, on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Damagum said how the candidates emerged in the two states indicated that the party would win the elections. He expressed the party’s confidence in winning the Edo and Ondo elections, saying it would not allow itself to be robbed of victory in any of the states.

Mr Damagum said Governor Godwin Obaseki had already laid a foundation for the party’s success in the state election.

“We will not sit down and allow anybody to search, grab, and steal. We will be battle-ready for any thief who rears his head to steal our fortune. We have done so well in Edo state. We thank the governor. We are very proud of him. Our records in that state speak volumes.

“So, to those that think they will take Edo, I want to tell them that it is going to be very difficult for them because we are in a democratic dispensation,” he said.

Mr Damagum said Ondo was already for the PDP to win and advised the people of the state to see the forthcoming election as another opportunity to change things to work for them.

“I know our highhandedness caused us to miss that state. But I am sure most of you people from Ondo have seen the situation on the ground. You are now more committed and resolved. You have a brand new candidate, who is so much endowed with wisdom. If I can say, his emergence has a hand of God in it,” he said.

Mr Damagum tasked the two campaign councils with facing the challenge ahead, being fearless, and working for the party’s victory.

He stated, “You have to open your eyes, shine your eyes. They will come with all sorts of antics, but this time around, we are ready for them. We will match them.”

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

NOA and NOSDRA logos

States

NOA, NOSDRA partner on environmental safety in Kwara

Mr Williams commended NOA for seeking closer collaboration in environmental management.

WHO

States

WHO commends Ebonyi as FGM drops to 20.4%

Mr Ogbueli described the decline as a major milestone in efforts to end FGM.

Jumoke Oduwole

Economy

FG empowers nearly 300,000 Nigerians through skills programmes: Minister

Mrs Oduwole saidthat the ministry was implementing policies to strengthen manufacturing and agro-processing, among others.

Kudirat Kekere-Ekun

NationWide

CJN seeks strong legal protection for maritime sector

Mrs Kekere-Ekun described maritime law as one of the principal pillars supporting global commerce.