Despite the initial anxiety and furore that trailed the 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), the Board of Trustees (BoT) and other organs of the People Democratic Party (PDP) Monday met at the party’s national secretariat.
The NEC meeting which started around 5pm had in attendance five state governors – Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau) and Douye Duri of Bayelsa state.
Others were the acting National Chairman, Amb Umar Damagum, Vice Chairman South, Amb Taofeek Arapaja, BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, BoT Secretary, Ahmed Makarfi, for.er Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Senate minority leader, Abba Moro, party chieftain, Chief Bode George, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governors, former and serving lawmakers, former gubernatorial candidates and principal officers among others.
Although, the embattled party scribe was not sighted anywhere near the NEC meeting, a reliable source confirmed to Blueprint that it could be part of the peace process.
Chief Kosheodo Setonji, who was acting all the while, though at the meeting, did not play the role of the secretary.
Udoh-Okoye, who also came, did not act in that capacity.
However, after a close-door meeting, Damagun told newsmen that a decision had been unanimously taken to reinstate Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the party.
Speaking at the meeting, Damagum said the meeting would be deliberating on various issues, especially when and how the next NEC would be.
He expressed joy that despite challenges that reared his head against the party, tension, according to him, has reduced, and the party has bounced back.
“We will channel our energy towards building our party. That said, we are using this medium to caution mischiefmaker and those contracted to destroy PDP against de-marketing the party to stop it,” Damagum said.
Also speaking, the BoT chair, Wabara, said that no matter what the party’s detractors feel, the party he said would not die.
Wabara, who hailed the NWC for organising the NEC, said it was a testament to the fact that Nigerians still love PDP.
“We shall survive because the God of politics is in this party. We are the beacon of hope, and we would no longer allow any crack that could destabilise us again,” he said.
In his own remarks, the chairman of the PDP governors’ forum, Bala Mohammed, said the crisis plaguing the party was created for PDP, saying that notwithstanding, the party still has history and capacity to deliver come 2027.
“All those people leaving the party are mere cosmetic in nature in order to demean us, but we are still here,” he said.
Mohammed then thumb-up the NWC for collapsing all wrangling, adding: ” PDP is strong alone, and there should be no excuse for joining any coalition. We are with the NWC and also pleading to the media for their support.”
Earlier in the morning, the meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP slated for Wadata Plaza’s headquarters could not hold as planned.
When Blueprint correspondent visited, men of the Nigerian Police and the Civil Defence were on the ground to ensure that security was not breached.
They also carried out partial cordoning of adjoining roads leading to the party secretariat.
During a chat, a source within PDP divulged to Blueprint correspondent that the security operatives’ presence stemmed from factionalization that has greeted the party’s activities lately.