PDP govs divided over new national chairman as party holds crucial NEC meeting on Thursday
As the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP meets tomorrow in Abuja, governors elected on the platform of the party are said to be divided on the main agenda of the meeting, which is to either retain the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, or replace him as some members have demanded.
While some of the governors are believed to support the idea that Damagum should go and allow someone from the North Central zone to replace him, since the suspended national chairman, Iyiorcha Ayu, is from the zone, a larger chunk of them are alleged to have been won over by FCT minister, Nyesom Wike to support the elongation of Damagum’s reign.
Interestingly, tomorrow is not looking good for the anti-Damagum camp after Wike has allegedly stepped in and ‘persuaded’ most of the governors, who have reportedly consented to work with him to retain Damagum.
A section of the PDP leadership had long alleged that Damagum was under the direct influence of Wike and that through him, the FCT minister, has maintained indirect control of the party and some of its structures, the same manner he is believed to have held down the structures of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.
Although Wike had since maintained some curious silence since the battle to replace Damagum started, with the NEC billed to hold tomorrow, he is said to have rolled out his arsenal in support of the acting national chairman, a development believed to have further created more confusion nay division in the party.
Speculations that Wike has been able to influence some of the governors have begun to manifest in the disagreement amongst them. While some still believe Damagum should go, those with Wike are said to have stamped his decisions and are standing with him.
Apart from Damagum, party sources told ThisDay that Wike has over half of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party on his side, who would readily do his bidding anytime, as far as the PDP politics is concerned.
Announcing tomorrow’s NEC in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP informed all members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) that the 98th NEC meeting scheduled for tomorrow, April 18, 2024 will commence at 2 pm.
“By this announcement, all NEC members are expected to arrive promptly at the NEC Hall of the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja, for the commencement of the meeting.
“For the purpose of accreditation, only Constitutionally Accredited members of NEC will be allowed into the meeting. All members of the party should please take note and be guided accordingly,” Ologunagba said.
