PDP NEC Convenes Amid Convention Uncertainty as Secretary Hesitates to Notify INEC
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is grappling with mounting internal tension as its National Executive Committee (NEC) meets in Abuja today, with uncertainty looming over its planned national convention. The caucus meeting, chaired by Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, ended late Sunday, with Damagum stating that detailed outcomes would be shared during the NEC assembly.Vanguard News
A core point of contention is the convention procedure, which hinges on a crucial INEC notification letter, a document that remains unsigned by National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Without his co-signature, the convention scheduling cannot be validated. A source at the meeting remarked, “What we are seeing is a delay in procedure. Until the secretary signs, the timeline for the convention cannot be confirmed,” attributing the delay to procedural caution or ongoing consultations by Anyanwu.Vanguard News
Despite these procedural setbacks, today’s NEC agenda remains heavy. Participants are expected to receive and consider the zoning committee’s report, prepared under the leadership of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, with Zamfara’s Governor Dauda Lawal as vice-chair and Plateau’s Governor Caleb Mutfwang as secretary. The report recommends retaining the current zoning formula, allowing the South to maintain its micro-zoned structure while allowing flexibility for the North to finalize positioning later.Naija News
Also slated for discussion: discipline involving party leaders accused of anti-party conduct. These are delicate matters with potential implications for unity, especially at a time when PDP must present a coherent front amid intra-party fractures.
The party’s divisions are reflected in previous NEC turmoil. Earlier meetings have been marred by parallel sessions, factional splits, and INEC pushback over procedural errors, especially the failure to secure dual signatures on meeting notices.Vanguard News+1 Vanguard and The Nation have also reported ongoing consultations involving key figures like former Senate President Bukola Saraki, BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara, and Governor Bala Mohammed, in attempts to bridge factions.Vanguard NewsThe Nation Newspaper
The unresolved question now is whether today’s NEC meeting will break the deadlock, or merely paper over cracks. Will the national secretary’s hesitation to validate the convention pave the way for further delays? Observers note that the party’s stability hinges on transparent adherence to democratic norms and swift resolution of internal disputes.
