The tussle over the national chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reached a denouement, yesterday, as the National Executive Committee (NEC), resolved that the Acting Chairman, Umar Damagum, should remain in office until August.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, told newsmen after the NEC meeting that the issue of a substantive national chairman would be discussed at the next meeting of the party organ in August.
“Our party emphasises the need for reconciliation and stability within the party at this time. Therefore, the issue of the national chairman has been deferred to the next NEC meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for August 15, 2024.”
Prior to the NEC meeting, supporters of the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had been locked in a supremacy tussle over which of the groups would produce the substantive national chairman.
Also, party stakeholders from the North Central had insisted that the zone must produce a replacement for the former chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, who was ousted last year.
Regardless, the opposition spokesman, while briefing on the outcome of the meeting of the PDP national caucus, earlier in the day, had told newsmen that the issue of party chairman was not part of the agenda for NEC.
“The caucus did not consider that, because we consider that at this time there are so many issues involved about the leadership.
“That issue was deferred to the next NEC meeting. So, what we are taking to NEC, the issue of leadership is not one of those things to be discussed in NEC.
“Damagum continues to be the acting national chairman of the party until the next meeting of NEC, after this NEC. And the party considered it not important to have more consultations on that issue. And what we are going to do is that we as a party must be united.”
Daily Sun gathered that while the issue of a substantive national chairman was not on the agenda, it nevertheless came up in the course of the meeting. However, it was deferred to the next meeting to enable the North Central to put its house in order.
Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, while briefing newsmen, said the opposition party was guided by experience and constitutionality.
“There were a lot of permutations and mischievous thinking outside there. But we looked at all the issues and we worked along our guidelines and constitution. There is no problem or dissension among members.
“In the next two months, we will see a lot of activities. Leadership is a responsibility. We said in September we would leave our congresses. We will look at the issue of leadership and look at the issue of our constitution where it will be. And we will do it with no rancour.”
A communique issued at the end of the NEC meeting, and read by Ologunagba, said the party organ approved the reconstitution of the party disciplinary and reconciliation committees to further ensure the stability of the party.
According to the communique, the NEC commended all the organs of the “party for their collective resilience, steadfastness and commitment towards the unity, stability and sustenance of our great party despite daunting challenges.
SOURCE:THE SUN