PDP NEC Struggles: The Critical Issues Awaiting Resolution by June 30

The National Executive Committee (NEC), the party's top decision-making body, failed to address significant concerns at its 99th meeting on Tuesday in Abuja, raising doubts that the crisis engulfing the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will soon be resolved.

However, the organ was compelled to schedule a second meeting for June 30 due to the irreconcilable differences.

As he opened the meeting at Legacy House in Abuja, Acting National Chairman Amb. Iliyasu Umar Damagum hinted at the possibility of holding further NEC sessions prior to the party's National Convention.

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.

All of the party's NWC members, as well as the governors of the states of Bauchi, Enugu, Adamawa, Taraba, Oyo, Osun, Zamfara, and Bayelsa, were present at the meeting, along with members of the Board of Trustees, party state chairs, and party national assembly members.

Atiku Abubakar, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is the party's presidential candidate for 2023. However, Nyesom Wike and Umo Eno, the governor of Akwa Ibom, did not attend the meeting.

The National Caucus of the party's pre-NEC meeting adjourned its sitting to Tuesday, the earlier day set for the NEC meeting, on Monday, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the meeting, which had already been postponed five times. However, the leadership instructed that the NEC would proceed as scheduled.

Following the roughly two-hour meeting, the acting chairman presented the communique, stating that the National Convention would be held from Thursday, August 28 to Saturday, August 30, 2025, and that NEC had received and approved the composition of the Committee on the National Convention.

Ahead to the National Convention, he added, the NEC received and approved the makeup of two important committees.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.

Apparently referring to gale of defections hitting the party, Mohammed said: “Our members (Governors) are standing strong and resolute. There is no intimidation that we are not going through. There is no caressing or cajoling that members and elected governors are not going through. If you ask anyone of them. But certainly, we are resolute. We will not abandon the mandate. 

“That is why you can see us here together. Yes, we wish well for those who have left. But we believe this is not the first time people left PDP and came back. I’m sure they will come back.

“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.”