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ABUJA – Governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to call for a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting latest by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the party.
Recall that the NEC meeting scheduled for November 28, 2024 was postponed indefinitely via announcement in the media by the party National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu on Thursday.
Anyanwu had explained that the 99th National Executive Committee meeting was postponed due to the funeral of Patience Umo Eno, the late First Lady of Akwa Ibom State and wife of Governor Umo Eno.
Recall that the continued postponement of the NEC meeting had been tied to plot by the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum to remain in office to serve out the tenure of Sen. Iyorcha Ayu, who was sacked as the National Chairman of the party.
August 15 was earlier set for the 99th NEC meeting, was postponed to October 24, 2024, then rescheduled to November 28, 2024 and has been postponed indefinitely.
Announcing the postponement of the NEC meeting on Thursday, Anyanwu had said, “Distinguished members of the National Executive Committee may recall that the NEC meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 24, 2024, was rescheduled to hold on Thursday, November 28, 2024, after an extensive meeting of leaders, critical stakeholder and relevant organs of the party held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
“However, at its meeting of Wednesday, November 20, 2024, the attention of the National Working Committee was drawn to the programme of events of the funeral ceremony of the late First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Mrs. Patience Umo Eno, wife of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, which events coincide with the scheduled dates of activities for the 99th NEC meeting.
“After due consideration, the NWC, recognising the need for party leaders to commiserate with Governor Umo Eno and also participate in the funeral, hereby wishes to notify distinguished members of NEC of our party that the 99th NEC meeting, earlier scheduled for Thursday, November 28, 2024, will now be held on a date that will be communicated to members in due course.”
the PDP governors, under the aegis of PDP Governors’ Forum, in their communique signed by the Forum Chairman and Governor of Bauchi state, Mohammed Bala, said they were constrained to accept the latest postponement.
The Forum, in the meeting attended by six governors and two deputies, stated categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion of PDP that Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance.
The communique reads in part: “The Forum is constrained to accept the latest postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Party in empathy with our colleague, H.E. Governor Eno Bassey, whose late dear wife will be buried on the same day earlier scheduled for NEC. Once again, the Forum wishes to commiserate with our colleague and pray that God will grant him and the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
“The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call NEC latest by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the Party. The period between November and February is to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities within the period under review to address issues of leadership and litigations confronting the Party.”
Lamenting the economic situation in the country, the “Forum empathizes with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government.
“The Forum calls on the President to urgently review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies that will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians. The Forum wishes to pledge that all PDP Governors will continue to aggressively pursue policies and programs that will reduce the hardship and ensure progress and development.”
Reacting to the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, the governors noted with concern the rape of democracy in the elections.
“It is clear to everyone with conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when in fact majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo. Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents in Ondo Elections where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes. The Forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people.
“The Forum recognises the good work that the majority members of NASS is doing. NASS is therefore called upon to critically interrogate all bills to ensure fairness, equity, national balance and even development nationally,” the governors said.
