PDP BoT seeks urgent NEC meeting to resolve crisis

Utaan seeks to replace Damagum, complete Ayu’s tenure
Makinde urges implementation of reconciliation panel report

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), yesterday, charged the National Working Committee (NWC) to urgently convene a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to address the crisis within the party.

Also, it emerged that top stakeholders in the North Central PDP might have given their consent to the emergence of Conrad Utaan to serve out the tenure of Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman of the party.

As reconciliation efforts within the party continue across the country, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has urged the national leadership of the party to adopt a comprehensive approach in implementing the recommendations of its reconciliation committee.

The NEC meeting, earlier scheduled for last month, was postponed till October 24, 2024, because of the states’ congresses of the party held between August and September.

Chairman of the BoT, Adolphus Wabara, recommended convention of the NEC summit at a meeting of the board in Abuja, yesterday. He stated, “At this critical juncture in our party’s trajectory, I believe it is imperative, and I believe I am speaking the minds of my colleagues in the board, that we convey a NEC meeting, as scheduled, on October 20 this year. This will allow us to address pressing matters and strategise on the way forward for the PDP, especially as we gear up for future elections and prepare to strengthen our internal structures.

“However, as we continue on this journey, let us remember that the future of our party, and indeed our country, depends on the unity, integrity and hard work of each of us. The PDP remains the beacon of hope for millions of Nigerians, and we must ensure that we remain true to the principles upon which this great party was founded. If the PDP BoT is kicked out of politics in Nigeria, then Nigeria is gone.”

Wabara urged all invitees to the party’s disciplinary committee to freely present themselves to the committee, stressing that the party remained supreme.

He disclosed that the BoT held a significant meeting with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State in August, where issues around the political situation in the state and its effect on the party were discussed.

He added: “The BoT also met with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike and the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, separately in pursuit of peace and unity for the party.”

FORMER Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswan, had earlier indicated interest in the PDP chairmanship, but stakeholders were reported to have resolved to pick a dark horse from the same senatorial district as Ayu.

Confirming his interest, Utaan told journalists in Abuja that “what matters to the leaders of the PDP at the moment is that justice must be done, not just to the North Central or Benue,” but the specific senatorial district that produced Ayu as chairman before his removal.

Just last month, the North Central caucus of PDP disclosed that it would soon come up with official position regarding its preferred candidate for the job.

Ayu was sacked by the court as PDP National Chairman, and Umar Damagum has been occupying the position in an acting capacity for more than a year now. Briefing journalists in Abuja while opposing the continued stay of Damagum as the acting national chairman, Utaan expressed concern that Damagum was becoming more or less like the substantive national chairman against the party’s constitution.

He warned of the implication of denying North Central its rightful position, adding, “Common justice requires that the PDP chairmanship should return to the North Central, what truly belongs to the North Central. Political interest has kept us where we are, but we are making headway. The recent ward, local council and state congresses across the country threw up a group of young people, who are going to place a demand on this party, and this process does not require a national convention. That is not what the law says; it is for Benue to approach the North Central Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the party with a replacement.

“Now that Ayu is no longer the chairman, this position was zoned to us. This is our consensus candidate for Benue. And it will be upon the ZEC to present that name to the NEC on October 24, 2024.”

MAKINDE commended the national body of the party for setting up such a reconciliation committee comprising highly respected leaders of PDP with vast political experiences in and outside of government.

He expressed optimism that the committee with former two-term governors of Osun and Gombe states, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Ibrahim Dankwambo as Chairman and Secretary respectively, among other eminent personalities, would come up with recommendations to strengthen and reposition the party for future elections.

Speaking during the committee’s briefing at the Agodi Government House, Ibadan, over the completion of its assignment in South West, Makinde, represented by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, emphasised the importance of unity and collective effort within the party to achieve the primary aim of the committee.