In a dramatic twist, calm returned to the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday as warring factions buried their differences and proceeded with the National Executive Committee (NEC) without let of hindrance.
There was pandemonium at the party’s national secretariat earlier in the day as armed policemen stormed the building, preventing party leaders who had reported for NEC from entering the complex.
It turned out to be a clash between two factions led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde.
Members of the Makinde faction showed up for NEC meeting, but they were countered by members of the Wike faction, who insisted on holding an Expanded National Caucus meeting, instead of NEC.
The two factions were forced to move their separate meetings away from the party secretariat to different locations where they were believed to have rosolved their differences.
The two factions later returned to the secretariat without rancour, having agreed to hold the NEC meeting without discussing the contentious issue of the office of national secretary.
The Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, who had earlier insisted that there would be no NEC meeting, made a u-turn as he announced that the gathering was indeed a NEC meeting.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Damagum said the party had agreed to hold another NEC meeting on July 23 to finalise arrangements for the party’s national convention tentatively fixed for August.
Addressing the meeting, Damagum said, “I want to use this opportunity to express to you that there was a thought before now, that this meeting will be an extended caucus and you can see cards flying here and there.
“The beauty of our party is that we have always handled our problems in our own ways. So after a few consultations with our leaders, the governors and leaders of other organs.
” We say for the synopsis, even though we have deferred this NEC and we had challenges, but this is our own NEC. And this NEC is going to deliberate on only one item so that we don’t run out of the other regulators asking us to do this, to do that.
“It is in this NEC that we will discuss when to hold a second NEC and going to convention in a most lawful and profound way.
“We will discuss that and we will issue the date when we conclude this meeting. I also want to use this opportunity to remind us that as party faithful, we all have responsibility to this party.
“The issue at hand, which created a lot of tension and division within us, has been discussed and we have taken a position. Unfortunately, the agreement to allow the National Secretary to step in, was a painful decision.
“I will still use the opportunity to call on party faithful to stop arbitrary demarketing of this party. I want the media to know, if you so much love this party, I think it is now time for you to devote your energy in propagating the beauty of this party.
“Stop demarketing the party unless you are one of those that have been contracted to come and destroy our party. I want to say it clearly here, enough is enough.”
On his part, the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed described how the initial disagreement was resolve as a miracle.
Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of the party’s governors in his capacity as the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, declared support for the Damagum-led leadership.
Also, the chairman of the BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, said PDP will never die, regardless of what her “detractors feel.”
“We shall survive. The God of politics is in this party. Allah of politics is in this party. For anybody, any other party, to succeed, we have to release our God to bless them. But our God knows that PDP is the beacon of hope for this country.
“What is happening here today will shock so many people. I am sure they will start planning again to bring problems. NWC should not allow a crack anymore,” Wabara said.
Other governors at the meeting were Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa) and Douye Diri (Bayelsa).
Also in attendance were the PDP lawmakers in the two chambers of the National Assembly, members of the BoT, former governors and others.
However, Senator Anyanwu was asked to excuse himself from the meeting. The controversial national secretary is wisley perceived to be Wike’s axeman.
