UPDATED: PDP pushes NEC meeting to November 28

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors and other stakeholders have postponed the October 24 National Executive Committee (NEC) to November 28.

The decision was reached after about four hours of meeting on Tuesday night.

Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting at the Bauchi Governors’ Lodge in Asokoro, Governor Bala Mohammed, said the decision was to allow the party prosecute the Ondo Governorship election slated for November 16.

The Chairman of the Governors Forum who led other members out of the meeting at about midnight also said maintaining the status quo will give the opposition party the needed impetus to unseat the All Progressives Congress-led administration in Ondo State.

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A communique issued after the meeting said the gathering was a consultative one with various party organs, including the PDP National Working Committee, the Board of Trustees, the National Assembly leadership of the party caucus, and the forum of former PDP governors.

The communique signed by Governor Mohammed said, “Rising from the consultative meeting of the various organs of the Peoples Democratic Party, the party has resolved that the National Executive Committee meeting, originally slated for 24 October 2024, has been rescheduled to 28 November 2024.

“The postponement is to ensure that the party approaches the forthcoming Ondo gubernatorial elections on 16 November 2024 with the unity and strength required to unseat the struggling All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the state.

“Reiterating the need for unity in the face of efforts by detractors to divide the party, the meeting called on all members to shun divisive utterances that could undermine ongoing efforts to strengthen the party and effectively position it as the country’s main opposition in preparation for the 2027 elections.”

Speaking earlier before going into the closed-door session, the Bauchi State Governor said the meeting was not just PDP governors’ meeting.

“It is not a caucus meeting, but a meeting of PDP stakeholders with one agenda: to reconcile all differences,” he said.

He insisted that “we are all united today under the leadership of Umar Damagum, and we are here to discuss vital issues. We will resist any attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. We will use our experience since 1999 to provide Nigerians with a viable alternative platform.”

Governors at the meeting included Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Ademola Adeleke (Osun); Dauda Lawal (Zamfara); Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers); and Caleb Muftwang (Plateau).

Others stakeholders were Damagum; former Senate President Adolphus Wabara; Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi; Samuel Anyanwu; Debo Ologunagba; Ahmed Yayari Muhammed; and Senator Abba Morro among others.