Uncertainty as PDP holds make or mar NEC meeting

Uncertainty as PDP holds make or mar NEC meeting

There is uncertainty in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as it prepares to hold a meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) tomorrow.

This is amid fear that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) may seal up the PDP Wadata Plaza, today over alleged non-payment of ground rent.

The NEC meeting, which is expected to be held at the party’s National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, barring any last minute change, is coming amid rising tension over the tussle for the control of the party’s machinery ahead of the 2027 polls.

Tomorrow’s NEC meeting, which would be the first in 13 months, after the last meeting held on April 18, 2024, is expected to take decisions on very crucial matters in the party, including the ratification of state and zonal congresses and settle the contention over the national secretary position among others.

The PDP governors, in a communique, after a meeting in Ibadan, on April 14, had proposed that a meeting of the party’s NEC should be held on May 27.

They also proposed that the PDP National Convention should elect a new National Working Committee (NWC) between August 28 and August 30 in Kano, while Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Diri Douye, should chair the convention and zoning committees, respectively.

Furthermore, the governors, while reiterating their support for the ouster of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as national secretary, stated that in view the Supreme Court judgment on the disputed national secretary position, the deputy national secretary, Setonji Koshedo, should assume office as acting national secretary, pending the nomination and ratification of a substantive national secretary from the South East.

In 2023, the South East chapter of the PDP nominated former national youth leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye as replacement for Anyanwu, after the latter emerged as the candidate in the last Imo State governorship election.

However, the move to replace the Imo born former senator was trailed by litigation. First, an Enugu State High Court affirmed Ude-Okoye’s nomination and mandated PDP NWC to swear him in as national secretary.

Last December, the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, in a majority judgment affirmed the verdict of the lower court. Nonetheless, the minority judgment stated that the court had no jurisdiction over the issue

The Supreme Court, in its verdict on a appeal filed by Anyanwu, nullified the majority judgment of the Court of Appeal, and upheld the minority judgment, which stated that the lower court had no jurisdiction over the issue, as it was an internal affair of the party.

While Anyanwu has continued to insist that he remains the PDP scribe, the NWC at its 600th meeting, on April 29, ratified all the proposals by the governors and mandated the South East to nominate a substantive national secretary.

The NWC also mandated Koshedo to take over the running of the national secretariat, in acting capacity, pending the nomination of a substantive national secretary from the South East.

Two weeks after, the South East PDP at a meeting in Enugu State Government House, re-nominated Ude-Okoye as its preferred candidate for national secretary. The nomination was conveyed to the NWC last Wednesday.

It was gathered that tomorrow’s NEC, among other issues, is expected to consider the issue of the national secretary and other proposals crucial to the next national convention of the party.

This is as some party chieftains are divided on whether or not the meeting was duly convened.

A party chieftain, who pleaded anonymity, hinted that Koshedo is allegedly not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and as such is not in a position to communicate the notice of NEC.

He argued that even “if they go ahead and hold the NEC, nothing serious will come out of it.” He added that, “you are aware that the national secretariat may be sealed tomorrow because the party is owing the tenement rate.”

Another source at the national secretariat disclosed that the alleged move by the FCTA to seal up the National Secretariat would not deter the party from going ahead with the NEC meeting.

According to him, whether or not the secretariat is sealed up today, the leaders of the party from across the country have resolved that the NEC must proceed as scheduled.

“The understanding of party leaders is that NEC must hold. Have you not seen Wike’s statement? He said he will fight to finish. If he likes, let him come and take the secretariat. We will go to another place and work.

“There are some party leaders that have come out from across the country. It is a fight to finish. This time around, they must take the party to the next level.

What I can tell you is that NEC will be held tomorrow, May 27. From all that I know, NEC would hold,” he stated.

When contacted, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who confirmed that the NEC meeting would go on as scheduled, was not forthcoming on the agenda.

He said the agenda for the NEC meeting would  have to be approved by the National Caucus first before it is presented to the party organ.

He said: “It (NEC) is scheduled already and it will be held on that day and the agenda will be considered at caucus. I don’t have all those details now.

“The caucus will decide whether we are going to this or that. And we will take it to NEC, NEC will decide and even create its own agenda. That is all I can tell you right now.”

However, he would not react to reports that there are plans by the FCTA to seal-up the Wadata Plaza today.

Meanwhile, ahead of today’s NEC meeting, the PDP National Board of Trustees (BoT), National Caucus and other relevant organs are scheduled to meet today.