Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will, on Saturday, meet in Jos, Plateau State, to take a decision on the party’s acting National Chairman, Amb Iliya Damagum, ahead of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting holding next Thursday.
The meeting summoned at the instance of the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, is to determine the choice of who will replace Damagum, a development that has hitherto divided the governors into two different camps.
According to a PDP source, ”The first camp is led by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, while the other camp is led by Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
The governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah and Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke were said to be neutral,
According to sources within the party, the Seyi Makinde camp is an off-shoot of the former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, who is insisting that Damagum should continue in office till December 2025.
The outcome of the Saturday meeting will decide whether the November 28 NEC meeting will produce a substantive national chairman.
As at press time, the north central zone was yet to reach a consensus on who to replace Iyorchia Ayu. The only option that is being mentioned is Senator David Mark, but sources said he was ruled out due to medical challenges.
Notwithstanding the outcome of the meeting and bearing any further changes, Damagum, may have secured the support of the 36 states chairmen and the chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to stay in office till December 2025,when a substantive national chairman would be elected.
The meeting was attended by 29 out of 37 state chairmen and FCT as members of the NEC with voting powers.
As part of the plot to thwart the decision of the November 28 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting has released the time table for six zonal congresses in the geopolitical zones of the country.
It was gathered that the decision to allow Damagum continue in office was the inability of the North Central zone to produce a consensus replacement to Ayu, who was sacked by his ward in Gboko and confirmed by a Benue State High Court in Gboko.
Though, Damagum at the meeting with the states chairmen said the meeting was aimed at formilarising members of the NWC with the newly states chairmen of the party.
But some of the state Chairman had agreed that there would be a NEC meeting on Thursday, November 28, but the meeting would not entertain any agenda to replace Damagum.
Briefing newsmen after the closed door meeting, Imo State PDP Chairman and Interim Chairman, PDP Chairman’s Forum, Austin Nwachukwu, said, ”The meeting is simply to familiarise ourselves with the National Working Committee. Recall that few months back, a lot of state congresses were held from wards, local government to the state.
”The NWC deemed it feet to gather all of us in Abuja to enable you know each other. It is essentially to familiarise ourselves with the NWC and those of them whose tenure are still running and will be running out next year.”
National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, National Legal Adviser Adeyemi Ajibade and the National Financial Secretary were absent at the meeting.
Senators: PDP Bigger Than Damagum, Wike
PDP Senators, on Wednesday, declared that the party’s identity transcended its acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun or the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The senators made the declaration while addressing journalists after a two-hour closed-door meeting at the National Assembly complex.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, stressed the need for the PDP to focus on strengthening its structure and preparing for future electoral challenges.
“The PDP is not just about Damagum or Wike; the PDP is about its members. We are working tirelessly to ensure that the party returns to its winning ways,” Moro said.
Reflecting on the party’s recent setbacks in gubernatorial elections, Moro acknowledged the challenges but maintained optimism about the PDP’s ability to bounce back.
“We discussed the life of our party, particularly in the context of recent electoral losses. While it is painful to lose, every failure is a lesson for future success.
“Our efforts are now geared towards ensuring PDP does not face such setbacks again, especially in states like Osun where we currently hold government.”
Moro also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission over its handling of elections, calling for reforms to restore credibility in the electoral process.
Chuks Okocha and Sunday Aborisade
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