The Peoples Democratic Party\u2019s elected governors have called for an emergency meeting on Friday in Asaba, Delta State, to redress the challenges plaguing the party.<\/p>\n
This comes as the party\u2019s BoT meeting on Wednesday in Abuja was marred by rowdy scenes after supporters of Senator Samuel Anyanwu attacked the party\u2019s former Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye.<\/p>\n
According to our findings, the governors\u2019 emergency meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, is meant to redress the challenges plaguing the party.<\/p>\n
The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Damagum, said the crisis rocking the main opposition party is fuelled by party leaders who are supposed to unite them.<\/p>\n
Damagum, speaking to members of the Board of Trustees in Abuja on Wednesday, emphasised that he would do everything in his power to ensure the PDP National Executive Committee meeting takes place in February, as requested by the party\u2019s Governors Forum and other party organs.<\/p>\n
A senior member of the National Working Committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn\u2019t authorised to speak on the issue, disclosed that BoT members protested the assault on former National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, by a supporter of the embattled National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu during the BoT meeting.<\/p>\n
The source revealed that the primary agenda for the meeting convened by the Forum led by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, includes the urgent need for a NEC meeting, ongoing preparations for the zonal congresses, the National Secretary crisis, a report from Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum on the party\u2019s status, and a review of the state of the nation.<\/p>\n
The PDP had been engulfed in crisis since the 2023 elections with many party members accusing Damagum, a close ally of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of being responsible for the unrest within the party.<\/p>\n
At present, the National Working Committee, BoT, zonal, and state chapters are all embroiled in crisis, with members aligning themselves with different leaders.<\/p>\n
Also, Wike, the Bauchi governor and others have continued to exchange harsh words, further escalating the schism in the party.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the crisis, Damagum, who called the situation unfortunate, accused some members of the BoT of being complicit in the turmoil.<\/p>\n
He stated \u201cI want to say this with the highest sense of responsibility, part of this crisis that you see today within the NWC, is propelled by our leaders that are supposed to unite us.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very unfortunate, I would say it the way it is, where people are called, we all know the working of NWC, some of you here have been NWC members. I\u2019ll be sitting down as the chairman only to see my NWC members called by certain leaders to visit certain places, without my knowledge.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I want to use this opportunity to caution us, caution our leaders. You may have ambition, but you don\u2019t ride on a dead horse to reach your destination. If you create crisis simply to further your ambition, you may get what you want, but your dream will not be realized because by that time, you have injured the horse you are going to ride to that destination.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAnd as the conscience of this party, some of us are also complicit. We should look inwards, search our conscience. This party is dear to all of us, it is the only thing we have. The hope of Nigerians today is on this party, so we should sheath our swords, work towards uniting ourselves so that we\u2019ll have a credible vehicle that can challenge what is bedeviling us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The party leader further urged leaders not to take any action that could disrupt the ongoing processes for the zonal congresses.<\/p>\n
He continued, \u201cAt the last meeting we had with the governor, we all agreed we\u2019ll have NEC (meeting). I want to assure you that we will do everything possible to have this NEC in this February.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are all aware we\u2019ve started the process of zonal congresses. Even at that, I enjoin our leaders to also be mindful of doing anything that can mar these congresses. It is very important to sound this note because whatever we do, it is the structure you are building to hold what you have in your hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his remarks, the BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara expressed frustration over the crisis.<\/p>\n
He cautioned party leaders not to let personal interests and ambitions take precedence over the party\u2019s well-being.<\/p>\n
He stated, \u201cThis meeting comes at a time when the unity, focus and direction and ideals of our great party are being tested in ways that call for reflection and decisive action.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrimarily, let me express my profound disappointment over the crises currently rocking the leadership of the National Working Committee. As elder statesmen and women; leaders who hold the trust of the generality of our party members and the public, it is disheartening that these issues have not been resolved.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe failure to resolve these internal conflicts undermines the strength and credibility of our party. It is therefore imperative that the NWC rises above personal interests and places the survival and progress of our great party above all other considerations.\u00a0 In the light of these challenges, I must emphasize the urgent need for a National Executive Committee meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cI again urge the NWC to honour its words and convene the NEC meeting as scheduled in February 2025. It is pertinent to stress that party members across the country are in earnest expectation that the NEC meeting will hold this February.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NEC remains the highest decision-making body of our party, and it is crucial that we convene without further delay to address these pressing concerns. The NEC meeting will serve as a platform to reaffirm our shared commitment to the unity, discipline, and ideals that bind us together as members of the PDP.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Earlier during the 79th BoT meeting at the party\u2019s national headquarters in Abuja, the former national youth leader who has being parading himself as the National Secretary, was assaulted by Anyanwu\u2019s supporters.<\/p>\n
The Appeal Court sitting in Enugu had on December 20, 2024, upheld Ude-Okoye as the PDP National Secretary, and the decision was formally communicated to the party leadership on December 24.<\/p>\n
However, last week, the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a restraining order, directing Anyanwu to remain in office until the Supreme Court resolves the appeal.<\/p>\n
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Wabara had declared the meeting open at 12:05 p.m. with Anyanwu in attendance while\u00a0 while Ude-Okoye arrived five minutes later.<\/p>\n
At precisely 12:20 p.m., a commotion broke out in the hall with Anyanwu forced out of the meeting room.<\/p>\n
After being pushed out, Ude-Okoye ordered some individuals dressed in black to enter the PDP headquarters.<\/p>\n
It took the combined efforts of police, Civil Defence operatives, soldiers, and Department of State Security personnel to restore order before the meeting, which lasted four hours, to continue.<\/p>\n
An eyewitness explained that Ude-Okoye was addressing the BoT members when some individuals interrupted him and forcibly removed him.<\/p>\n
He stated, \u201cUde-Okoye came to the meeting on the invitation of the BoT. While the meeting was ongoing, Ude-Okoye was speaking to the gathering when he was abruptly shut down and pushed out. This annoyed the BoT chairman and other leaders, who were upset by the assault.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a result, they threatened to end the meeting. However, Damagum and others pleaded with Wabara and the BoT leadership to continue after allowing Ude-Okoye to rejoin the meeting.<\/p>\n