The People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) North Central Caucus has voiced its disapproval of the indefinite postponement of its 99th National Executive Committee meeting, which was originally scheduled for November 28.
Through its National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said in a statement Thursday that the funeral of Patience Umo Eno, the late First Lady of Akwa Ibom State and wife of Governor Umo Eno, was the reason behind the postponement of the 99th National Executive Committee meeting.
The PDP’s acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, has made plans to remain in his role with the backing of former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, according to a prior article published by The Vizta Daily on Tuesday.
Since consuming Damagum, who took over as acting National Chairman following the court’s expulsion of Senator Iyorchia Ayu, has been under increasing fire from party officials due to the PDP’s ongoing issue, with more people demanding his resignation.
Party leaders authorized a reconciliation and disciplinary committee, the conduct of state and ward congresses, and directed the North Central Caucus to consult on the ongoing matter of replacing the acting National Chairman with a permanent National Chairman during the 98th NEC meeting on April 18.
The 99th NEC conference was also scheduled for August 15 by the 98th NEC; it was initially rescheduled for October 24, 2024, but was later moved to November 28, 2024, and is currently indefinitely postponed.
Anyanwu announced that the NEC meeting would be further postponed on Thursday.
Distinguished members of the National Executive Committee may remember that following a lengthy meeting of leaders, important stakeholders, and pertinent party organs on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, the NEC meeting originally planned for Thursday, October 24, 2024, was rescheduled to Thursday, November 28, 2024.
But during its meeting on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, the National Working Committee’s focus was on the events planned for the funeral of the late First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Mrs. Patience Umo Eno, who was married to the state’s governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno. These events also happened to fall on the dates of the 99th NEC meeting.
‘After careful deliberation, the NWC, acknowledging the necessity for party The 99th NEC meeting, which was originally planned for Thursday, November 28, 2024, will now take place on a date and it will be announced to all members in due time.
This is to inform the esteemed members of our party’s NEC to express their condolences to Governor Umo Eno and to attend the funeral.
All NEC members are kindly asked to take note of the date change and adjust their plans appropriately. The esteemed members of NEC will be inconvenienced by this date adjustment, and the NWC deeply apologizes for that.
Due to a lack of authorization to comment on the subject, a high-ranking NWC official who asked to remain anonymous described the postponement as a calculated move to buy time.
‘While the funeral is the real reason for the postponement,’ he said, Additionally, it is viewed as a planned strategy to gain additional time.
The NEC meeting doesn’t really need to be moved if that weren’t the case because the majority of people who attend both events usually fly.
‘Those in favor of Damagum have essentially taken over the party and made arrangements to see that he serves out Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s term. They promptly made this public since the governors who are meeting in Jos on Saturday cannot act otherwise.
Kola Ologbondiyan, a former PDP National Publicity Secretary and member of the North Central NEC, emphasized that following the formal succession plan was crucial to resolving the party’s internal problems.
specified in PDP Constitution (2017 Amendment) Section 47(6).
Ologbondiyan made the case Thursday in Abuja to young people from North Central that the best way to solve the PDP’s problems and eventually try to fix Nigeria was to uphold the party’s constitution.
He emphasized that ‘anything beyond this demand will end up being an exercise in futility.’
‘Leaders must consider the wider picture and confront the truth where necessary,’ said Ologbondiyan. We must inform people who have committed to putting the PDP to death or putting it in a coma that the party is not a one-man operation.
The People’s Democratic Party was the name given by its founders. It is consequently owned by the Nigerian people, not by any one person, regardless of how well-positioned they may be. in the community.
According to him, Damagum and his followers ought to acknowledge that their acts were hurting Nigerians.
‘At its 98th meeting, the party’s National Executive Committee decided to take the North Central’s demand into consideration at its 99th meeting, which is set for August of this year. However, the proposed NEC has had numerous delays, which has cost the party and Nigerians dearly.
‘These NEC postponements by the National Working Committee are abnormal and demonstrate a great disregard for the party’s constitutional order.”
Ologbondiyan warned that if the North Central region didn’t continue to fight for its legitimate claim to the post of National Chairman of the PDP, they would have to give up their rights inside the celebration.
As long as Damagum is supported in his role as North Central, ‘it is common knowledge that the idea of fixing the PDP will be merely lip service that can cause more harm to the party,’ he stated.
