The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a significant step toward internal cohesion and national relevance on Thursday, as it successfully held its 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
Key decisions made during the gathering included the constitution of a National Convention Planning Committee and the fixing of the party’s highly anticipated convention for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a statement released shortly after the meeting, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, former Senate President and Chairman of the PDP Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, described the session as a “milestone” for the party, noting that the peaceful conduct and outcomes demonstrate the PDP’s renewed commitment to unity, due process, and national renewal.
Among the resolutions passed was the formation of a Zoning Committee tasked with allocating party offices across the six geo-political zones ahead of the convention.
The NEC also witnessed a significant moment of reconciliation, as the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and the returned National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, worked harmoniously alongside other members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
“This peaceful collaboration allays the fears of those who speculated that Senator Anyanwu’s return might destabilize the NEC or disrupt preparations for the convention,” Saraki stated. “On the contrary, today’s meeting has proven that the PDP is stronger and more united.”
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To ensure transparency and credibility, representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were invited as official observers. Their presence, Saraki said, was part of the party’s deliberate efforts to uphold legal standards and affirm the legitimacy of its processes.
“I am particularly elated that, with the success of today’s NEC meeting, the Reconciliation and Strategy Committee I chair has fulfilled critical parts of the mandate given to us by the PDP Governors Forum on May 12, 2025,” Saraki remarked.
“We were charged with clearing the path for this NEC meeting and ensuring the groundwork for a successful national convention. Today’s outcome is an indication that we are delivering on that mandate.”
Saraki extended gratitude to the PDP Governors Forum, led by its Chairman Senator Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, for their unwavering support and strategic foresight.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the party’s founding fathers, leaders, elders, stakeholders, and members of the NWC and NEC, for their spirit of compromise, dialogue, and patriotism.
“This breakthrough wouldn’t have been possible without your sacrifices,” he said. “The machinery for a successful convention is now in motion. All hands must remain on deck as we head to Ibadan to usher in a new era for our party and for Nigeria.”
The November convention is expected to be a defining moment for the PDP, potentially repositioning the party as a formidable political force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“With today’s progress, we are entering a new frontier — one where the PDP can reclaim its place as a platform for good governance and national transformation,” Saraki concluded.