PDP: AHEAD APRIL 18: MAKINDE DUMPS G5

With just days to the much-anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Titanic G5 seems to have hit the iceberg.

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 Ambassador Illiya Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, after much pressure from various camps,  has fixed the NEC meeting of the main opposition party for Thursday April 18, 2024.

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

Five PDP governors, popularly called G5, Nyesom Wike (Rivers state), Seyi Makinde (Oyo state), Samuel Ortom (Benue state)  Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia state) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu state)  had refused to support Atiku during the election,

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

The NEC meeting is expected to 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.

Another thorny issue 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.

While the Wike-led camp is rooting for Ambassador Illiya Damagum to retain his seat as the PDP national chairman, the other camp, led by former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar is pushing for the emergence of Senator Gabriel Suswam.

Reports reaching The Kaleidoscope Magazine however indicate that the camp led by the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is encountering challenges in maintaining unity as the crucial National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party draws nearer.

Informed sources reveal that Engr. Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, also a serving governor, who had been a prominent member of the G-5 faction, has decided to distance himself from the group.

Makinde is a second-term PDP governor who until the emergence of Ademola Adeleke of Osun state was the poster boy of PDP in the South West.

The governor, who has experienced strained relations with the faction lately, is reportedly aligning with voices advocating for a change in the party’s status quo.

The exit of Makinde from the G5, analysts say, will lead to a waterloo for the Wike-led group at the NEC.

The governor is speculated to be in league with the Governor of Bauchi Bala Mohammed.

The NEC meeting, scheduled for this Thursday, will be preceded by other strategic meetings starting today, including the PDP governors’ forum meeting, the PDP Caucus and the Board of Trustees (BoT).

Party faithful and indeed the nation await the outcome of Thursday’s NEC meeting.