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Claim: A Facebook user shared a post alleging that PDP’s Acting National Chairperson, Umar Damagum, has resigned, attributing the report to Arise News.
Verdict: False! DUBAWA verified that Umar Damagum has not resigned; moreover, no credible source confirms this claim.
Full Text
Since its formation in 1998, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has dominated Nigeria’s political landscape. Once the ruling party for 16 years, it has faced internal crises, leadership tussles, and electoral defeats, struggling to reclaim its influence.
The aftermath of the 2023 general elections further deepened these divisions, with party members calling for structural reforms and leadership accountability.
Amidst these challenges, Umar Damagum was appointed as the acting National Chairperson in March 2023 following the removal of Iyorchia Ayu. His tenure has been marked by calls for his replacement, particularly from members who insist that the position should return to the North Central region to complete Ayu’s tenure.
A Facebook account, @News in Naija, recently shared a post on March 15, 2025, at 1:23 p.m. The post, which included an image of the current PDP chairperson, carried a lengthy caption claiming that Damagum had resigned.
“PDP Governors Reassert Control as Damagum Steps Down. According to a report by Arise News, the acting National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, has resigned from his position. This development comes amid efforts by PDP governors to strengthen their influence over the party’s direction. Damagum’s resignation is seen as a strategic move to restore unity and address internal challenges within the party. The PDP has faced internal disputes and leadership struggles in recent times, prompting calls for restructuring and a renewed commitment to its founding principles,” the post reads.
The post further claimed that PDP governors were taking charge to unify the party ahead of upcoming elections. It described Damagum’s resignation as a strategic move in restructuring efforts, with governors working to strengthen the party and present a united front to voters.
While this specific post received limited engagement—only five comments, five shares, and 15 likes—another similar post from @Oche Hyacinth sparked more controversy among Facebook users.
For instance, @Godwin Ogbeba wrote, “Bye-bye and farewell, sir. Incoming leader, you are welcome. I don’t know why, in Nigeria, when someone has completed their job, either by resigning or retiring, many are afraid. PDP is a party that produces many leaders; one may come and go, but the party remains.”
Similarly,@James Godwin wrote, “He is gone, but people have left, so let him eat the party.”
Amidst these comments, @Ilya Hassan raised a critical question: “How true is the news?”
Given the ambiguity of the claim and the growing curiosity among users, DUBAWA verified its authenticity.
Verification
Seeing that Arise News was mentioned as the source of this information, we searched the broadcasting station’s official website but found no evidence of such a report.
However, DUBAWA searched and found a report by Business Day in which PDP Acting National Chairperson Umar Damagum denied claims of his resignation, calling them “fake news.” His assistant, Nuru Jos, dismissed the reports as entirely false, emphasising that Arise News, which was cited as the source, never published such a story. He reiterated that Damagum remains in office, as the PDP constitution grants the National Chairperson a four-year term.
The party also urged its members and the public to disregard the malicious information, stating that the rumours were politically motivated and set to malign the hardworking and dedicated chairperson.
Other news platforms also published similar reports about the clarification, which can be seen here, here, here, and here.
Conclusion
DUBAWA’s findings confirm that Umar Damagum has not resigned, and Arise News did not report such a claim. Available reports debunked the misinformation, including statements from Damagum and the PDP.
