PDP crisis: Emergency NEC meeting needed to prevent implosion – Ex-officio members
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing an internal crisis that could lead to its implosion, according to its national ex-officio members.
They, however, warned that only an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, scheduled for October 24, 2024, can address the escalating tensions within the party’s top leadership.
The ex-officio members, representing different regions of Nigeria, expressed deep concern over the party’s state of affairs, citing a “dangerous turn of events” that threatens to destabilize the party.
They emphasize the need for a NEC meeting to provide a platform for aggrieved members to voice their concerns and seek resolutions.
The national ex-officio members of the party have also thrown their weight behind the peace effort of the PDP Governors Forum led by the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed.
The ex-officio members in a statement signed by Dr. Yunana Ilya (Northcentral), Dr.Nicholas Msheliza (Northeast), Chief Madumere Chinemerem (Southeast), Chief Patrick Agbe (South-South), Chief Faboyede Clement (Southwest) and Alhaji Ibrahim Alhaji (Northwest), expressed deep concern over the state of affairs in the PDP, highlighting what they referred to as a “dangerous turn of events” that has the potential to destabilize the party.
According to the statement, “As an integral part of NEC of our great party, and one of its last bastions with the grassroots, who believe in the resurgence of our party’s popularity, we have critically brainstormed and dispassionately resolved, as a matter of urgency to call on the leadership of the party to ensure that the NEC meeting scheduled for the 24th, October 2024 holds.
“This will afford members who are aggrieved the opportunity to be heard and their issues addressed.”
Continuing, it said, “We have viewed with utter dismay and concern the dangerous turn of events within the top echelon of our party in recent times. These events have the tendency to shake the very foundation of our party.”
The national ex-officio members emphasized the need for a NEC meeting to provide a platform where aggrieved party members can voice their concerns and seek resolutions.
They said: “The NEC meeting will afford members who are aggrieved the opportunity to be heard and their issues addressed.”
They further explained that the PDP Constitution mandates that the NEC meets at least once every quarter, regretting that the party has failed to adhere to this provision.
“Our Party’s Constitution is explicit on the importance of NEC in its provision that it shall hold at least once every quarter, failing which two-thirds of members may exercise its power in summoning an emergency NEC meeting.
“It is regrettable that our party has not adhered to the provisions of its own constitution, which would have nipped in the bud many unresolved issues,” they stated.
They contended that the party should return to constitutional supremacy.
While acknowledging that the internal disagreements have remained unresolved, the ex-officio members praised the efforts of the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State.
“Through the firm and sterling leadership qualities of His Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed, the PDP Governors’ Forum has not only provided the needed direction but has indeed lived up to expectations,” they stated.
They also threw their weight behind ongoing peace initiatives aimed at restoring the party’s unity and strength.
They strongly made a case for the party to remain a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as the PDP continues to position itself for future elections.
“Nigerians still believe that PDP is the only viable alternative to the failed Tinubu-led APC administration,” the Ex-Officio members declared.
The PDP, once Nigeria’s ruling party, has faced several internal crises since its loss in the 2015 presidential election.
The party, which prided itself on being a symbol of democratic governance, has struggled with factional divisions and leadership battles, which have threatened its unity.
In recent years, the PDP Governors’ Forum has taken a leading role in efforts to mediate these conflicts, but ongoing issues have continued to challenge its stability.
