Ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for tomorrow in Abuja, a deep-seated division among governors elected under the party’s banner has emerged over the fate of the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum.
The main agenda of the impending meeting revolves around whether to retain Damagum or replace him, with conflicting stances among party members.
Reports indicate that while some governors advocate for Damagum’s replacement with a candidate from the North Central zone, others, allegedly influenced by FCT minister Nyesom Wike, are inclined towards extending Damagum’s tenure.
Wike’s purported intervention in rallying support for Damagum has intensified the discord within the party, with speculations rife that he has swayed a significant number of governors to his side.
The acting national chairman has been accused of being under Wike’s sway, with allegations of indirect control over the party and its structures akin to his reputed influence over 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.
Apart from Damagum, party insiders 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.
In anticipation of tomorrow’s NEC meeting, PDP has issued a statement through its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, urging all members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) that the 98th NEC meeting scheduled for tomorrow, April 18, 2024 will commence at 2 pm.
Ologunagba stated, “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 added.
