…Back Gov Mohammed-led peace effort
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
AMID the growing internal tension within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Conference of National Ex-Officio members of the party has warned that only convocation of an emergency National Executive Council, NEC, meeting scheduled for October 24, 2024, will avert the looming implosion in the party.
The warning came on the heels of what the group described as an escalating crisis within the top leadership of the party, adding that failure to act could lead to dire consequences.
The national ex-officio members of the party have also thrown their weight behind the peace effort of the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed.
The ex-officio members in a statement signed by Dr. Yunana Ilya (North-Central), Dr. Nicholas Msheliza (North-East), Chief Madumere Chinemerem (South-East), Chief Patrick Agbe (South-South), Chief Faboyede Clement (South-West) and Alhaji Ibrahim Alhaji (North-West), expressed deep concern over the state of affairs in the PDP, highlighting what they referred to as a “dangerous turn of events” that had the potential to destabilize the party.
The statement read: “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 October 24, 2024, holds.
“This will afford members, who are aggrieved, the opportunity to be heard and their issues addressed. We have viewed with utter dismay and concern the dangerous turn of events within the top echelon of our party in recent times. These events have the tendency to shake the very foundation of our party.”
The national ex-officio members emphasized the need for a NEC meeting to provide a platform where aggrieved party members could voice their concerns and seek resolutions, adding: “The NEC meeting will afford members who are aggrieved the opportunity to be heard and their issues addressed.”
They explained further that the PDP constitution mandated that the NEC meets at least once every quarter, regretting that the party has failed to adhere to this provision.
While acknowledging that the internal disagreements had remained unresolved, they praised the efforts of the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Senator Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State.
“Through the firm and sterling leadership qualities of His Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed, the PDP Governors’ Forum has not only provided the needed direction but has indeed lived up to expectations,” they stated.
They also threw their weight behind ongoing peace initiatives to restore the party’s unity and strength, making a strong case for the party to remain a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as the PDP continues to position itself for future elections.
“Nigerians still believe that PDP is the only viable alternative to the failed Tinubu-led APC administration,” the ex-officio members declared.
The PDP, once Nigeria’s ruling party, has faced several internal crises since its loss in the 2015 presidential election.
The party, which prided itself on being a symbol of democratic governance, has struggled with factional divisions and leadership battles, which have threatened its unity.
In recent years, the PDP Governors’ Forum has taken a leading role in efforts to mediate these conflicts, but ongoing issues have continued to challenge its stability.
Vanguard
