Tuesday May 27, 2025|
The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not be over very soon as its National Executive Committee (NEC), the highest decision-making organ, failed to resolve major issues affecting the party at its 99th meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
The irreconcilable differences however forced the organ to fix another meeting for June 30.
Acting National Chairman, Amb. Iliyasu Umar Damagum dropped the hint of possible conduct of more NEC meetings before the party’s National Convention while declaring open the meeting at the Legacy House, Abuja.
The meeting had been subjected to conflicting directives from the embattled National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, acting as National Secretary over the procedure outlined in the PDP Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act thay should be followed.
The meeting had all the party’s NWC members, Governors of Bauchi, Enugu, Adamawa, Taraba, Oyo, Osun, Zamfara and Bayelsa States in attendance with members of the Board of Trustees, State Chairmen of the party and members of the National Assembly from the party.
The party’s 2023 presidential flag bearer Atiku Abubakar, Minister of Federal Capital Territory. Nyesom Wike and Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno were however absent at the meeting.
The uncertainty clouded the meeting, having been postponed five times was compounded on Monday when the pre-NEC meeting of the National Caucus of the party adjourned its sitting to Tuesday, the earlier day fixed for the NEC meeting, only for the leadership to direct that the NEC will still hold as planned.
Presenting the communique after the meeting which lasted for about two hours the acting Chairman said NEC received and ratified the composition of the Committee on the National Convention and approved the conduct of the National Convention on Thursday 28th to Saturday 30th August 2025.
He also said that the NEC received and ratified the composition of two major committees ahead of the National Convention. There are Committee on the Zoning of National Offices and the National Convention Committee.
According to Damagum, the Zoning Committee has Gov. Douye Diri (Bayelsa) as Chairman, Gov. Dauda Lawal (Zamfara),Vice Chairman and Plateau Governor, Caleb Mutfwang as Secretary.
For the National Convention Committee, Adamawa Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri will head the committee while Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun State will serve as Vice Chairman and Gov. Peter Mbah (Enugu State) as Secretary.
On the contentious National Secretary issue, NEC received the resolution of the South East Zonal Executive and resolved to consider the resolution of the South East Zonal Executive at the next NEC meeting billed for Monday, June 30.
Assuring Nigerians of the resolve of the party to provide leadership, the Acting Chairman said: “PDP remains strong, resilient , united and determined now, more than ever before in leading the charge to rescue our Nation from the vicious grip of the APC.”
Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) said they have resolved to stand by the PDP, assuring leaders and members that they are not ready to jump the ship.
