The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday held its 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja amid internal turmoil and deepening divisions. Notably absent were two central figures in the party’s ongoing crisis—former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike—whose no-shows signaled persistent discord within the party’s top ranks.
Despite prior doubts about whether the meeting would proceed, the NEC rebuffed efforts to postpone the session, which it used to present a 10-point communiqué. The document, read by Acting National Chairman Umar Iliya Damagum, ratified the composition of the Committee on the Zoning of National Offices ahead of the next national convention. The NEC also confirmed the South-East Zonal Executive’s resolution regarding the vacant National Secretary position but deferred final decisions on the matter until June 30, when the party holds its landmark 100th NEC meeting.
Governor Douye Diri was named chairman of the zoning committee, with Governors Dauda Lawal and Caleb Mutfwang serving as vice-chairman and secretary, respectively. Meanwhile, Governors Ahmadu Fintiri, Ademola Adeleke, and Peter Mbah were appointed to lead preparations for the convention.
However, the NEC avoided addressing some of the more contentious internal issues—such as the status of Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s return as National Secretary—drawing criticism for sidestepping the core of the party’s challenges. The indecision comes as the Saraki-led “Way Forward Committee” attempts to mediate ongoing factional disputes.
Leadership Calls for Reconciliation Amid Federal Pressure
At the meeting, PDP Board of Trustees Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara delivered a frank message, calling for unity and reconciliation. “No ambition, no grievance, and no misunderstanding should override the collective interests of our party,” he said, urging stakeholders to recommit to the party’s foundational values.
The party’s governors echoed these sentiments, with the PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, accusing the Federal Government of using intimidation to weaken the opposition. He stated that PDP governors remain united despite the pressures and political maneuvering by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mohammed emphasized the resilience of the party’s leadership. “We are ready to endure the challenges, the criticisms, and the hardships that come our way,” he said. He also hailed the NEC meeting as a triumph of democratic will in the face of adversity.
Lamido Demands Wike’s Expulsion
Adding fuel to the internal fire, former Jigawa State Governor and PDP founding member, Dr. Sule Lamido, called for the expulsion of Nyesom Wike, branding him a “political disaster” and accusing him of deliberately sabotaging the party. Lamido condemned Wike’s sealing of the PDP National Secretariat—over alleged ground rent violations—as a betrayal and abuse of power.
In a strong rebuke of the PDP leadership’s inaction, Lamido questioned the continued membership of figures like Wike and former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, who openly supported the opposition during the 2023 election cycle.
Lamido also credited President Bola Tinubu for reportedly intervening to reopen the sealed PDP office. “Even Tinubu is beginning to see that Wike is unreliable,” he said, warning that internal sabotage and leadership failures threaten both the PDP and Nigerian democracy as a whole.
Dele Momodu Backs Tinubu’s Restraint
In a rare gesture of bipartisan approval, PDP chieftain and former presidential aspirant Dele Momodu praised President Tinubu for curbing what he described as Wike’s overreach. Referring to the FCT minister as “cantankerous” and “a liability,” Momodu noted that the President’s intervention in the Abuja rent dispute signaled that Wike is not above executive oversight.
“Sir, there can’t be two captains in one ship, and I hope Wike got that message loud and clear from your powerful intervention today,” Momodu wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
A Party at a Crossroads
As the PDP approaches its 100th NEC meeting next month, questions persist about its ability to function as a cohesive opposition force. The internal battles, avoidance of key decisions, and growing public spats between senior members underscore the party’s urgent need for unity and renewal.
Whether the PDP can resolve its leadership crisis and reclaim its role as a formidable political alternative remains to be seen. But Tuesday’s meeting was a clear reminder that the stakes—for both the party and Nigeria’s democracy—are higher than ever.
