From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum (PDP-GF) has tasked the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) with ensuring that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meets in the first week of February 2025.
The PDP-GF stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting in Jos, Plateau State, and signed by its chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed of Plateau State.
The forum, while noting concerns about the “seeming” divisions within the opposition party, stated that it is constrained to accept the postponement of the NEC meeting, which was earlier scheduled for November 28.
Recall that the PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, last Thursday issued a notice postponing the NEC meeting. Anyanwu said the postponement was to enable party leaders to participate in the funeral of the wife of Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno.
Nevertheless, the governors charged the leadership of the party to use the period before the NEC meeting to resolve all issues in the party.
Furthermore, the opposition governors charged President Bola Tinubu to review both the macroeconomic and fiscal policies of the federal government to address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.
The communiqué read: “The Forum notes the concerns of Nigerians, PDP founding fathers, elders, and members of our great party about the seeming divisions within the ranks and files. The Forum wishes to state categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion within this great party, which Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance.
“The Forum is constrained to accept the latest postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Party in empathy with our colleague, H.E. Governor Eno Bassey, whose late dear wife will be buried on the same day originally scheduled for the NEC. Once again, the Forum wishes to commiserate with our colleague and prays that God will grant him and the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
“The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call the NEC meeting at the latest by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the Party. The period between November and February should be used to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities during this period to resolve issues of leadership and litigation confronting the Party.
“The Forum empathizes with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government.”
It added: “The Forum notes with concern the rape of democracy in the Edo governorship election. It is clear to everyone with conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when, in fact, the majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo.
“Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents from the Ondo elections, where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes. The Forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people.”