PDP Governors Push for Consensus Chairman from North Central Amid Party Crisis

By Samaila Emmanuel Bzugu

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have agreed to settle for a consensus national chairman from the North Central zone. Top contenders for the position include Gabriel Suswam, Emmanuel Agbo, and Conrad Utaan.

The decision comes as the party faces internal crisis, with pressure mounting to hold a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. Former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu expressed confidence in the party’s ability to overcome its current challenges and emerge stronger.

A party source revealed that subtle campaigns for replacing acting national chairman Amb Iliya Damagum have begun. The source expects a clearer picture to emerge by Tuesday or Wednesday.

The PDP governors’ forum chairman, Bala Mohammed, announced that stakeholders would meet to decide the NEC meeting date, initially slated for Thursday

The PDP governors’ forum chairman, Bala Mohammed, announced that stakeholders would meet to decide the NEC meeting date, initially slated for Thursday.

Signatories to the statement included Dr. Yunana Ilya (North Central Zonne), Dr. Nicholas Msheliza (North East Zone),Chief ‘Madu Chinemerem (South East Zone), Chief Patrick Agbe (South South Zone), Chief Faboyede Clement (South West Zone), and Alhaji Ibrahim Alhaji (North West Zone).

Ex-officio PDP NEC members from the six geo-political zones have called for the NEC meeting to address grievances and resolve issues.

The statement by the PDP Ex-officio members of NEC read: “We have viewed with utter dismay and concern the dangerous turn of events within the top echelon of our party in the recent times. These events have the tendency to shake the very foundation of our party.

“We recall the primary aim of the founding fathers of our great party was to pursue democratic tenets and good governance for teeming Nigerians, and that has not changed.

“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.

“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.

“We profoundly commend the efforts and interventions of the PDP Governors Forum, ably led by His Excellency, Senator Bala Muhammed, CON, Governor of Bauchi State in its determination to resolve the party’s crisis and return it to the path of greatness.”

Ikpeazu likened the party’s crisis to a furnace refining gold, stating that PDP would emerge stronger and united.