Continuous Reschedule of NEC Meeting Unsettles PDP Stakeholders

The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shows no sign of abating as the push to remove the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, continues to face delays.

Repeated postponements of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting have frustrated efforts to address key issues, including the appointment of a substantive National Chairman to complete the tenure of the suspended Iyorchia Ayu.

Unending Postponements

InfoStride News reports that the PDP, on Friday, postponed its proposed NEC meeting yet again. This meeting was intended to address lingering party issues and resolve Damagum’s status.

At the 98th NEC meeting held on April 18, it was decided that unresolved matters would be addressed by August 15.

However, the meeting was rescheduled to October 24 and later postponed again to November 28, ostensibly to focus on the recently concluded Ondo gubernatorial elections.

Further complicating matters, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, announced on Friday an indefinite postponement of the NEC meeting, citing the funeral of the late First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Mrs. Patience Umo Eno, as the reason.

Stakeholders React
This development has sparked frustration among party members, who allege deliberate delays by the Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) to extend his tenure until the party’s national convention next year.

Sources revealed a split among PDP governors, with four of the party’s 13 governors supporting Damagum, who is aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Conversely, six governors loyal to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have vowed to oust Damagum before March 2025.

North Central Stakeholders Protest
Some North Central stakeholders have criticized the repeated postponements, describing them as unconstitutional.

Former PDP National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan accused Damagum’s NWC of disrespecting the party’s constitutional order.

“It is trite wisdom that as long as Damagum continues to occupy the position, the idea of fixing the PDP will remain lip service.

The only solution is to allow a North Central member to complete Ayu’s tenure,” Ologbondiyan said.

Allegations of Collusion with APC
Ikenga Ugochinyere, a PDP member of the House of Representatives, accused Damagum and the National Secretary of colluding with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a post on his official X handle, Ugochinyere alleged that the duo recently met secretly with APC officials, warning that such actions threaten the party’s survival.

“They want to officially hand over the PDP to the APC without shame. The end story of ANPP and AD will be better than PDP if we don’t stop these shameless political traitors,” he wrote.

Internal Struggles Persist
Party chieftain Austin Okai attributed the lingering crisis to the ambitions of some PDP governors ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Both the acting National Chairman and the National Secretary need to go; they are not functional.

Some governors are either eyeing the presidency or vice presidency and are putting their interests above the party’s,” Okai said.

He also alleged APC interference, claiming that some governors are meeting with the president, thereby undermining the PDP’s relevance.

PDP Governors Demand Action
Rising from a meeting on Saturday, the PDP Governors’ Forum issued a communiqué urging the NWC to convene the NEC meeting by February 2025.

“The Forum strongly advises the NWC to call NEC latest by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders.

This period should address existential problems facing the party, including leadership and litigation issues,” said Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who chairs the forum.

As tensions within the PDP persist, stakeholders remain divided on the way forward, raising questions about the party’s readiness for future electoral challenges.