*Shifts decision to June 30
By Euclid Myke, Abuja
The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) dashed the hope of Southeast stakeholders following its failure to resolve the controversy surrounding the office of its National Secretary by moving it to June 30th 2025 during the next slated NEC meeting to give room for more consultations and reconciliations.
However, the leader of the party and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, governor of Akwa Ibom State Umo Eno, embattled National Secretary of the party Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as well as Minister of Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike were absent and did not send any apologies at the meeting.
In his opening remarks at the 99th NEC which took place at the party’s Legacy House, Abuja on Tuesday, National Chairman of the party, Amb. Umar Damagum acknowledged that the NEC was postponed severally to give room for reconciliation and peace among divisive voices in the party. He lamented that the crisis rocking the main opposition party was self-inflicted. He expressed optimism that it was surmountable and that recalcitrant elements may be shown the way out if the need arises.
“I want to also reiterate that the beauty of PDP is that we have always had an internal mechanism to surmount whatever obstacle even if it is alien.
“People are outside there waiting for this opportunity to see whether we are able to surmount all these problems that are self-inflicted and somehow engineered from some quarters but with the help of God, we’ll continue to overcome. They will put obstacles and we will surmount it until when we show them the way out” he said.
The NEC in a communique read by Damagum at the end of the meeting, postponed further discussions on the controversy surrounding the office of the party’s National Secretary and the demands made to the party by the Southeast zone nominating Hon. Sunday Ude-Okoye as replacement for Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
“NEC also received the resolution of the South-East General Executive with regard to the issue of the National Secretary, and to be considered and deliberate upon in the next NEC which is slated for June 30”.
It also affirmed the zoning and convention committees constituted by the PDP governors.
“NEC also received and ratified the composition of the committee on the zoning of national offices ahead of the national convention.
“The members of these zoning committees are Governor Duoye Diri, Chairman Governor Dauda Lawal, Vice-Chairman and Kaleb Mutfwang, Secretary. That is the zoning committee.
“The members of the National Convention Committee are Governor Amadu Finturi, Chairman, Governor Ademola Adeleke, Vice-Chairman and Governor Peter Mbah, Secretary”.
Earlier in his goodwill message, Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Sen. Adolphus Wabara called for deep seated reconciliation, forgiveness and healing among party members.
According to him, “As the party of the people, we must recommit to healing these wounds and restoring faith among our members. As chairman of the board of trustees, the conscience of the party, I call on all of us leaders, elders, youths, and stakeholders to embrace reconciliation, not just as a political tactic, but as a moral imperative. We must open our hearts to forgive, to dialogue, and to debate.
“No ambition, no grievance, and no misunderstanding should ever be allowed to override the collective interests of our party and the hopes of the Nigerian people who are yearning for our return to national leadership. Let us initiate a genuine and structural reconciliation process led by respected elders that reaches down to the grassroots and extends a hand of peace to all aggrieved members, both old and new. Our doors must remain wide open to fresh ideas, open to new members, open to all Nigerians who believe in justice, equity, and good governance”.
Chairman of PDP governors Forum, Sen. Bala Mohammed who spoke on behalf of the governors said that the party has the capacity to reinvent itself and win the next general election. He lamented that the party has been penetrated by the opposition but added that the governors are united and working in the interest of the party.
“Our parties have been penetrated. They have factions here and there and they have members in the National Assembly. Some even have governors. But certainly you would give it to us that we are together united. We have been holding meetings in various states.
“The governors are united. We are ready to work. No amount of intimidation or exclusion by the federal government will make us give in. And we are ready to tolerate and swallow all the melancholy, all the abuses that we will get” he said.
The NEC was earlier preceded by the continuation of the previous day caucus meeting attended by PDP governors, BoT members and other stakeholders.
Present at the NEC were former Senate President Bukola Saraki,
Present at the meeting were governor Bala mohammed (Bauchi), Kefas Agba (Taraba), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Umaru Fintri (Adamawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Ademola Adeleke (Osun) and Ifeanyi Ossai (Deputy governor, Enugu State).
Others are former governor of Jigawa State Sule Lamido, former governor of Imo State Achike Udenwa, former governors of Benue State Gabriel Suswan and Samuel Ortom, former Minister of Women Affairs Iyom Josephine Anenih and many others.
Again, PDP fails to name Nat Secretary
