TENSION IN PDP: Govs, BoT Reconvene as NEC Meeting Stalls

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in turmoil, as its much-anticipated National Caucus meeting ended in a deadlock on Monday, leaving the fate of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting uncertain. Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, disclosed after nearly three hours of intense deliberations that talks would resume at 10 a.m. today (Tuesday).

The meeting, held in Abuja, was meant to pave the way for the long-delayed NEC session, originally slated for May 27. However, the absence of influential party figures—including former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo, ex-Senate President David Mark, and former House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal—signaled deeper fractures within the party. Their absence, observers believe, undermined efforts to build consensus and highlighted the growing disenchantment within the PDP’s upper echelon.

Efforts to reach resolutions were further hampered by internal strife, with the meeting ending without definitive outcomes. According to Damagum, a smaller committee was set up to draft solutions to be reviewed during today’s continuation meeting. “We just adjourned our meeting till tomorrow. We set up a small committee that would give us a report,” Damagum explained.

Saraki Panel, Governors, and BoT Seek Path Forward

In a bid to restore order and salvage the stalled NEC meeting, the party’s Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT), and the Bukola Saraki-led reconciliation committee will reconvene today. Monday’s failure to reach an agreement prompted late-night consultations by the Saraki panel and other senior party figures, tasked with presenting a peace report this morning.

According to a reliable source at the caucus meeting, the adjournment allowed space for “solution-based” consultations. “Tonight, some of the party leaders will meet. Saraki’s panel will also meet and present solution reports tomorrow,” the source stated.

These efforts follow months of failed attempts to hold the 99th NEC meeting. Initially scheduled for August 2024, the meeting has faced serial postponements, with new dates in October and November, only to be indefinitely suspended. A renewed commitment was made in December 2024 to hold the meeting by February 2025, but this too fell through, leading to further postponements and growing internal discontent.

Wike Pulls Out as Internal Crisis Deepens

In a dramatic twist, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, publicly withdrew from all previous reconciliation efforts on Sunday. Wike, who has been at loggerheads with the party’s leadership over the rejection of his allies—particularly concerning the contentious position of National Secretary—vowed to continue his political fight within the party.

Tensions escalated further on Monday afternoon when the Federal Capital Territory Authority taskforce, operating under Wike’s ministry, sealed off several properties, including the PDP’s National Secretariat in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, citing unpaid ground rent. This unexpected action forced the relocation of the BoT meeting from Wadata Plaza to the party’s Legacy House office in Maitama.

The BoT meeting, however, failed to hold, deepening uncertainty and reinforcing the perception of a party in disarray. This sequence of events has further fragmented the party, particularly as Wike commands significant influence in Rivers and other PDP strongholds.

Defections and Disarray Undermine PDP’s 2027 Ambitions

The PDP faces not only internal crises but also a weakening political base. The party’s disintegration has led to high-profile defections, the most notable being the recent move of former Vice Presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and the entire Delta PDP structure to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Delta State was long considered a PDP fortress, but the defection of Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, commissioners, and grassroots structures to the APC has left the opposition party reeling. Described as ‘Hurricane Tinubu’, the wave of defections has stirred fears of Nigeria’s descent into a de facto one-party state.

The trend is further exacerbated by defections from the federal legislature, including the recent loss of five-time House of Representatives member Oluwole Oke from Osun State. With more defections looming, PDP’s chances in the 2027 general elections are increasingly uncertain, as the party struggles to regain lost ground.

Damagum’s Leadership Under Fire Amid Growing Instability

Since assuming office after the suspension of former chairman Iyorchia Ayu, Acting Chairman Umar Damagum has faced relentless criticism over his handling of the party’s affairs. Stakeholders accuse him of lacking the strategic direction to unify the party and resolve critical disputes, particularly around zoning and national appointments.

The conflict over the position of National Secretary has severely weakened the National Working Committee (NWC), rendering it largely ineffective. This, combined with the disarray in most state chapters and the near-collapse of zonal structures—especially in the South-South—has made party governance chaotic.

As the party reconvenes today, all eyes will be on the outcome of the Saraki committee’s peace report. Whether the NEC meeting will proceed or face yet another postponement depends on Tuesday’s deliberations. For a party that once held national dominance, the next few hours could determine whether the PDP can reclaim relevance or continue its descent into political obscurity.