The fate of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is hanging in the balance as the party, yesterday, resolved its crisis with a status quo ante bellum directive.
 
Thirteen governors elected on the PDP platform rose from a meeting with other organs of the party, including the National Working Committee (NWC), and resolved that all pronouncements regarding suspensions be put aside.
 
Briefing journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF), Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, said stakeholders had resolved the crisis in the party.  He said: “I want to inform you on behalf of the PDPGF, Chairman of the Senate Caucus and the representative of the Board of Trustees (BoT) that we had a family meeting, and we wish to reaffirm that there is no faction in the PDP.

All the suspensions you heard about have been resolved by the governors, the NWC, the Caucus of the National Assembly and the BoT. There is no faction; everything has reverted to the status quo under Acting Chairman, Umar Damagum, pending the time the governors and other organs of the party will sit down and resolve all the issues.
 
“There is no party that does not have problems. Some of them are legal, and we do not want to pre-empt the outcome of legal procedures. So, whatever speculations and perceptions have gone out are wrong. Both parties have agreed that, in the interest of the party and Nigeria, we should return to the status quo before the suspension and counter-suspension.”
 
Echoing a communiqué issued by PDPGF after a virtual meeting on Monday and an NWC meeting yesterday, Mohammed said, “These suspensions have been lifted; there are no more suspensions. That is the resolution of the PDPGF.”

He urged members of the party to “remember that it is the PDP we have, and it is the most experienced party that has produced government and good governance since 1999. We should make sacrifices and come together. Yes, we may have ill-feelings here and there, but we should bury them. Our personal feelings should not be allowed to create perceptions that seem to divide us.”
 
Damagum, who also corroborated Mohammed’s remarks on the resolution of the crisis, said it was a family matter that had been swiftly resolved.
 
“There is no crisis in the party, as far as I am concerned, but some people want to take advantage of the situation. I urge the press not to escalate things even where there is no crisis.
 
“The governors are our leaders and critical organs of this party, and when they speak, we must look at it holistically and also abide by it,” he added.  However, the PDP leaders are to meet for further discussion on whether or not the proposed NEC meeting will be held on October 24, 2024.  On that, Mohammed stated, “The sacrosanctity of the NEC meeting is subject to further discussion by stakeholders in the PDP.”
 
The communiqué signed by Mohammed revealed that the organs of the party were careful in addressing issues particularly those over which there were pending legal disputations.
 
It reads, “There are no factions in the party and minor issues should not be blown out of proportion.
 
“We urge occupants of positions of responsibility to be mindful of their vow to serve and grow the party from strength to strength, consolidating on the dreams of our founding fathers.”