APRIL 18: PDP PLANS MAKE OR MAR NEC MEETING

WIKE OTHERS TO FACE SANCTIONS

 Ahead of the much-anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President and presidential candidate of the party in 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has returned to Nigeria.

The Ambassador Illiya Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has fixed the NEC meeting of the main opposition party for April 18.

The NEC, the second most influential decision-making organ of the party after the national convention, is expected to meet every quarter as stipulated by the party’s constitution.

The anticipated NEC meeting, according to party sources, is shaping up to be a make or mar one for the party.

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the party in 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, who is regarded as de facto leader of the party, being the presidential candidate in the last elections, is expected to spearhead other meetings ahead of the NEC meeting.

The gathering is expected to be a watershed moment, determining the future trajectory of the party.

This is coming after months of political manoeuvring and internal strife in the main opposition party following the fallout of some key personalities in the build-up of the 2023 general election.

The party presidential primary election was well contested with former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, emerging as the runner-up behind former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

All efforts to reconcile the party following Wike’s loss proved unsuccessful, leading to various crises within its ranks.

Five PDP governors, Nyesom Wike (Rivers state), Seyi Makinde (Oyo state), Samuel Ortom (Benue state)  Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia state) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu state) including Wike, who refused to support Atiku during the election, have further deepened the party’s internal divisions.

Despite efforts by stakeholders to bridge the gap between Atiku’s supporters and those loyal to Wike, the party has failed to find common ground.

The NEC meeting promises to be a crucial opportunity to address the challenges facing the party and proffer possible solutions ahead of the 2027 election.

It is expected to discuss various issues, including the resolution of internal disputes, disciplinary actions against members involved in anti-party activities, and the status of party leadership.

 

This comes as agitations have mounted over the poor management of the party against the backdrop of allegations that the party was being controlled by external forces as alleged by former Benue State governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam.

Former Senate President, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, from Benue State (North Central) emerged national chairman at the party’s last convention.

But Damagum, deputy national chairman (North), who hails from Yobe State (North East), was made acting national chairman in 2023 after a court order removed Ayu from office.

The North Central zone has therefore called for Damagum to relinquish the acting national chairmanship seat and allow the emergence of a substantive national chairman from the region where the party originally zoned the position to in 2021.

Although the agenda of the NEC would be defined by the NWC, the NEC meeting might also decide on what actions to take on party leaders who have continued to undermine the party including the governors and party chieftains who openly worked against Atiku as PDP presidential candidate in 2023 and also recently reiterated their resolve to support President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress

The NEC meeting will also look into the issues impeding the progress of the party, including what appropriate punishment, if any, should be meted out to those who involved themselves in anti-party activities, including the FCT Minister, who publicly declared that he did not work for Atiku Abubakar.

The suspension of the National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, and the status of the acting Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, will also be on the agenda.

Governors elected on the PDP platform have also called for the NEC meeting to be convened to address these challenges. They have expressed confidence in the current NWC led by Umar Damagum and urged the committee to take decisive action to revamp the party.

Most of the PDP governors also believe that the party needs a total overhaul and that holding NEC without putting their acts together on what to do on the Wike issue and the status of Damagum will not augur well.

One of the thorny issues that will shape the outcome of the NEC meeting is whether the current leadership of the party has done enough to remain in the saddle or if there will be a change of guard.

The decisions taken at the meeting will not only impact the next election but also determine the party’s survival in the long run.

This NEC meeting will be a make or mar one for the PDP because a lot of issues require the attention of the party members. Both members of the party and the Nigerian public have great expectations as to how they expect the party to progress going forward.

Whatever the NEC comes out with will have a far-reaching implication on the party, not only on the next election but also on the future and survival of the party.

The events leading to and the outcome of the PDP NEC meetings in the next two weeks will have far-reaching consequences on not only opposition politics in Nigeria but the survival of democracy in Africa’s most populous country.