The Peoples Democratic Party announced late on Tuesday that its planned National Executive Committee meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed to 28 November 2024.
The move is to allow the party to focus on strategising and mobilising for the upcoming Ondo State governorship election, which is set to take place on 16 November 2024.
This was disclosed in a communiqué issued by the party’s Governors’ Forum, under the leadership of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, following a consultative meeting with various party organs. The meeting also included the PDP National Working Committee, the National Assembly leadership of the party caucus, and the Forum of former PDP governors.
The PDP Governors’ Forum held an extended meeting at the Bauchi State Governors’ Lodge, Tatari Ali House, Asokoro, on Tuesday, 22 October 2024.
The communiqué partly read, “Rising from the consultative meeting of the various organs of the Peoples Democratic Party, the party has resolved that the National Executive Committee meeting, originally slated for 24 October 2024, has been rescheduled to 28 November 2024.
“The postponement is to ensure that the party approaches the forthcoming Ondo gubernatorial elections on 16 November 2024 with the unity and strength required to unseat the struggling All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the state.
“Reiterating the need for unity in the face of efforts by detractors to divide the party, the meeting called on all members to shun divisive utterances that could undermine ongoing efforts to strengthen the party and effectively position it as the country’s main opposition in preparation for the 2027 elections.”
Mohammed publicly acknowledged the leadership of the PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, at the meeting.
Earlier, a faction loyal to Mohammed had sought a court order to prevent the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission from cancelling the planned NEC meeting.
The lawsuit, filed by a certain Imam Auwal at a Zamfara High Court in Gusau Judicial Division, also sought to overturn an earlier injunction from the Abuja Federal High Court that barred the PDP from removing Damagum from office.
However, on Tuesday, the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum expressed support for Damagum’s leadership at a stakeholders’ meeting, which aimed to ease tensions within the party’s National Working Committee.
As of the time of filing this report, only five of the party’s 13 governors were in attendance. These included Mohammed, Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), and Caleb Muftwang (Plateau).
The development followed an earlier announcement by the Olagunsoye Oyinlola-led Reconciliation Committee, which had successfully resolved internal disputes within the NWC, allowing the party to move forward in its nation-building efforts.
In his opening remarks at the expanded PDP Governors’ Forum meeting, Mohammed stated, “This is a PDP meeting, not a governors’ meeting. It is not a caucus meeting, but a meeting of PDP stakeholders with one agenda: to reconcile all differences.
“As you can see, we are all united today under the leadership of Umar Damagum, and we are here to discuss vital issues.
“We will resist any attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. We will use our experience since 1999 to provide Nigerians with a viable alternative platform.”
Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis
The PUNCH journalist, Adebayo, has over 20 years of experience covering politics, health, metro, entertainment and properties
By Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis, Olugbenga Ige
