PDP in battle of wit holds NEC meeting

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be fighting a battle of wit between the conflicting power blocs in the party. Accordingly, the party convened its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday contrary to the postponement announcement on Monday by the controversial National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.

National Daily Newspaper, monitoring the events from Lagos, found that as at noon hours on Tuesday PDP NEC members and other party stakeholders have started arriving for the 99^th NEC meeting holding at Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja.

The PDP had on Tuesday announced “Arrival of NEC members and other party leaders to the Venue of the @OfficialPDPNig  99th NEC meeting, holding at Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja.

“PDP…Power to the People!”

Also, Chairman of the Way Forward Committee, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had on Tuesday declared @bukolasaraki “Over the past two days, I’ve joined fellow PDP leaders in caucus meetings as we get ready for today’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.”

The PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting was scheduled for Monday preparatory to the NEC meeting on Tuesday.

Anyanwu had, thereafter, announced the postponement of the NEC meeting in a statement, explaining that the postponement was to allow the Senator Bukola Saraki-led Way Forward Committee to conclude its assignment of resolving internal party conflicts.

Anyanwu in the statement warned that “any NEC meeting notice or publication issued by deputy national secretary, posing as the acting national secretary, was unauthorised, illegal, and should be disregarded.”

However, a PDP official from the publicity directorate had urged party stakeholders to disregard the statement from Anyanwu.

PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, after the PDP Extraordinary Caucus Meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja, declared that the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will hold on Tuesday (today) as scheduled.

Participants at the extraordinary caucus meeting held at the Bauchi governor’s lodge include Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State; Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Seyi Makinde of Oyo; PDP BoT Chairman, Sen. Adolphus Wabara; BoT Secretary, Ahmed Makarfi; a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and a BoT member, Chief Bode George.

Former PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus; Chairman of PDP South-South Caretaker Committee, Emmanuel Ogidi; NWC members and some former governors were also in attendance.

According to the PD Acting Chairman, “We just finished the extraordinary caucus meeting. We are moving to Legacy House for our NEC meeting.

“I think it will be proper for us to address you immediately after we finish the NEC meeting.”

It is not certain if Anyanwu, Nyesom Wike and some others  will be there.