The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Thursday as the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) expressed dismay over the repeated postponements of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting by the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC).
At an emergency meeting in Abuja, the BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, condemned the delays, noting that they undermined trust and confidence among party members. He also announced plans to meet with former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in January as part of ongoing reconciliation efforts.
The PDP has been embroiled in internal turmoil since Damagum assumed the position of acting National Chairman following the court-ordered removal of Senator Iyorchia Ayu. Damagum has faced mounting criticism from party leaders, with growing calls for his resignation amid claims of ineffective leadership.
The delays in convening the NEC meeting have been a major point of contention. At the 98th NEC meeting held on April 18, 2024, the party resolved to form a reconciliation and disciplinary committee, conduct ward and state congresses, and tasked the North Central Caucus with recommending a permanent replacement for the acting National Chairman.
The 99th NEC meeting was initially scheduled for August 15, 2024, but was postponed to October 24, 2024, then to November 28, 2024, and now indefinitely delayed. Frustrated by this trend, the PDP Governors Forum, chaired by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, has directed the NWC to convene the meeting by February 2025 at the latest.
Speaking at the BoT meeting, Wabara warned that continued delays could jeopardize the party’s unity and democratic principles. “Today, we convene under challenging self-inflicted circumstances, compelled by our collective concern for the current state of our great party,” he stated.
“As custodians of the PDP’s conscience and legacy, it is our responsibility to uphold the integrity of this institution and ensure that it serves as a beacon of hope for our democracy and good governance. The continued postponement of the NEC meeting by the NWC is disappointing and undermines the trust and confidence of our members,” Wabara added.
He emphasized the NEC’s critical role as a platform for decision-making, consultation, and collaboration, urging the NWC to honor its commitment to the party’s constitution. “Adherence to timelines and commitments is non-negotiable. Further delays could exacerbate existing challenges and sow unnecessary discord within our ranks,” Wabara warned.
The BoT chairman reaffirmed the board’s commitment to ensuring accountability and urged the NWC to demonstrate leadership and responsibility by convening the NEC meeting as directed by February 2025.