The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for a significant gathering of more than 180 key members, comprising former national chairmen, governors, and Senate Presidents, in Abuja today. However, the incumbent governors have not been invited to this select committee meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), which will take place at the party’s national secretary in Abuja. The meeting is expected to discuss crucial issues concerning the party, according to the national organizing secretary of the PDP, Hon. Umar M. Bature.
Notable figures invited to the meeting include the PDP’s former presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; the former vice presidential candidate, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa; former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman and former Senate President, Sen Adolphus Wabara. Other attendees include former Senate Presidents David Mark and Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Maj. Gen. David Jemibwon; Alh Adamu Maina Waziri; Prof Jerry Gana; Prince Uche Secondus; Sen Ahmed Makarfi; Alh Shuaibu Oyedokun; Sen Stella Omu; Hajiya Maryam Inna Ciroma. Donald Duke, Senator Gabriel Suswam, Boni Haruna, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Liyel Imoke, Olusegun Mimiko, and Sule Lamido have also been invited.
While the agenda of the meeting has not been disclosed by the party leadership, there are clear indications of divisions within the PDP between factions supporting Atiku and Wike. These divisions emerged during the last presidential election and were evident in the recent National Assembly leadership election.
A senior member of the party, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that although the exact purpose of the meeting remains uncertain, it is evident that the party is facing significant challenges and must engage in sincere discussions if it intends to overcome them and maintain its position as the major opposition platform. The source emphasized the need for party leaders to act swiftly if they wish to retain their relevance in the minds of Nigerians.
Today’s meeting marks the third major gathering of PDP leaders since the general election, which is currently being contested by the party’s presidential candidate. Previously, PDP leaders convened at a retreat in Bauchi State and later in Abuja for an event honoring outgoing governors and former chairmen of the party’s governors forum. Notably, Wike was absent from both meetings, which were attended by Atiku.
