The Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP GF) has said that Thursday’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will not discuss leadership change.
This is contrary to expectations that the session will deliberate on the fate of Ambassador Iliya Damagun who has been the national chairman in acting capacity since the ouster of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu in March last year.
Rising from a meeting, which is a precursor to the party’s NEC on Wednesday, the governors also alleged that some marauders are trying to factionalize the party but vowed that they will not be allowed to succeed.
Chairman of the forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, read the communique issued at the end of the meeting, which took place at Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.
He said that the meeting deliberated on various issues of interest and concern to the forum and the main opposition party.
The communique reads in part: “The meeting reviewed recent developments in the Peoples Democratic Party and urged the National Working Committee of the Party to set in motion the machinery to conduct credible congresses in all the states where tenures of party officers have expired.
“The meeting noted that there are no factions in the PDP and everybody is working together.
“We equally want to use this opportunity to reaffirm that in Rivers State, the Governors would work assiduously towards resolving all the issues in the state with a view to uniting all the stakeholders.”
Fielding questions from correspondents, Governor Mohammed poured cold water on the rampant agitation for the removal of the PDP acting national chairman but noted that the party will follow its constitutional provisions in doing everything.
Asked to react to the agitation by the North Central stakeholders for one of their own to complete the short-circuited tenure of Dr Iyorchia Ayu, also from the zone, the PDP GF chairman stated: “I said the issues have been resolved and we look forward to doing it within the constitutional provision of the party. So, we are not here in this meeting that is preceding NEC to discuss about change of leadership. We are talking about resolving all issues and going forward so that at the end of the day, the timelines allowed in the constitution for congresses would have been done.
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“Certainly, the public is free to permutate and discuss and then NEC will decide on some of these issues.”
He dismissed the insinuation that there are opposing forces within the party on the issue of Damagun continuing in office.
“There is no any contending forces. Who is NEC? NEC is the PDP Governors Forum and other stakeholders. So, we are just a portion of NEC, we cannot talk on behalf of NEC until we get there.
“NEC will take decisions on such issues, not the governors.
“I know the governors normally take leadership positions, but we have an acting person in leadership capacity leading the party and NEC will decide whether it is time to fill the vacancy looking at the legal implications of doing that, knowing that they are so many lingering litigations in court and of course we don’t want to disparage ourselves because we know that they are some marauders hiding somewhere trying to factionalize our party and take one faction to go and do coalition.
“We are not going to allow that as governors. We are very responsible and we are very credible and we make sure we resolve all the issues and unify the party for maximum efficiency and success in the next election.”
The forum’s meeting was attended by eight of the 13 PDP governors including Mohammed, who is the chairman; vice chairman, Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers); Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) as well as Deputy governors Omobayo Godwins and Ifeanyi Ossai o of Edo Enugu states, respectively.
Absent or not represented were Governors Calab Mutfwang (Plateau), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).
Meanwhile, the ousted national chairman of the PDP, Dr Ayu, has withdrawn his case appealing his removal from office.
The notice of withdrawal, which was filed at the Federal Court of Appeal Makurdi Division, is dated April 15, 2024.
Marked Appeal No.(MK/88/2024, Suit no./MHC/85/23, it listed Ayu as the appellant while Engr. Conrad Terhide Utaan and the Peoples Democratic Party are listed as the respondents.
“Take notice that the appellant herein intends and doth hereby wholly withdraws the appeal against the respondents filed on the 27th day of June 2023 vide Notice of Appeal dated the 26th day of June 2023,” it said.
The notice was signed by Ayu’s counsel, Chief E.K. Ashiekaa, SAN.
Meanwhile, elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has advised the PDP National Working (NWC) to probe the anti-party of some of its members that led to the loss of the 2023 general election.
In a statement he issued on Wednesday, he said the party NWC should be courageous enough to set up a disciplinary committee to investigate the anti-party activities, particularly the roles played by some members which led to the failure of the PDP in the 2023 elections.
He also called for the dissolution of the present NWC “for their anti-party activities” and in their place, and acting national chairman should be appointed in accordance with the constitution of the party.
“This was what happened during the tenure of Uche Secondus, who was still in court when the party appointed another acting national chairman.
“The party should immediately revisit the online registration of its members as it was initiated by the then National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, to save the party from depending on individuals, because as they say, he who pays the piper, dictates the tune,” Clark added.
