BY BEN OGBEMUDIA and JENNIFER EZIMAKOR
Amid massive defection that has affected the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), following unending internal crises, governors elected on the party’s platform have declared their resolve to remain and save the once ruling party from total collapse.
The PDP has witnessed one fracas after another since the last general elections in 2023, with the latest being the struggle over the party’s structure between Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, Governor Seyi Makinde and others on one side, and former Rivers State governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and his supporters on the other side.
The PDP governors who spoke at the end of the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, assured that they cannot fall to intimidations from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to abandon the PDP at this critical point.
Speaking on behalf of the governors, the Chairman, PDP Governors Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed acknowledged the mounting political pressure and defections that have tested the party’s resilience but reaffirmed their determination to stand firm.
“As governors, we have gone through a lot,” he said. “This dispensation is a different one under the present administration. There are so many booby traps, innuendos, political movements… Today, we have been bombarded by the issue of coalition and gale of defections that is even affecting some of our members.”
Despite these challenges, Mohammed insisted that PDP governors remain committed to the party and its ideals. “Our members are standing strong and resolute. There is no intimidation that we are not going through… But certainly, we are resolute. We will not abandon the mandate,” he said.
He dismissed speculations around the exodus of key party members, noting that the PDP has weathered similar storms in the past.
“Yes, we wish well to those who have left. But we believe this is not the first time people have left PDP and returned. I’m sure they will return.
“The governors are united. We are ready to work. No amount of intimidation or exclusion by the federal government will make us give in.”
He appreciated party elders and leaders, saying, “This 99th NEC is to us a triumph of democracy, a triumph of good governance about the evil that we are experiencing in this country.”
Also speaking at the meeting, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), urged members to reflect on the party’s founding values and confront internal challenges through genuine reconciliation.
“The journey of our party has been long, sometimes turbulent, but always deeply rooted in our collective aspirations for a united, democratic, and prosperous Nigeria,” Wabara said.
Acknowledging the internal crises that has plagued the PDP, Wabara was said. “We have faced internal and external challenges, and in most cases, self-inflicted challenges… There is still much work to be done. Divisions, mistrusts, and lingering grievances within our ranks have at times hampered our progress and blurred our vision.”
The BoT chairman, who therefore called for honest introspection, urged members to recommit to party unity. “As chairman of the board of trustees, the conscience of the party, I call on all of us—leaders, elders, youths, and stakeholders to embrace reconciliation, not just as a political tactic, but as a moral imperative.”
He called for the initiation of a “genuine and structural reconciliation process” led by respected elders that would reach grassroots levels and extend peace to all aggrieved members. He also stressed the need to revitalize the party by opening its doors to new voices and ideas, noting that a combination of “the energy of the youth, the vision of technocrats, the passion of women, and the commitment of patriotic Nigerians” would be key in rescuing the nation.
Other notable attendees of the NEC meeting were the former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, former governors of Osun, Plateau, Zamfara, Adamawa and Oyo states, former ministers, party chieftains, former National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, Prof. Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information, Chief Tom Ikimi, and others.
Meanwhile, the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) rose from its meeting on Tuesday in Abuja affirming that its planned National Convention fixed for August would go ahead.
This was contained in a communique issued by the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum.
The PDP described the government led by the All-Progressives Congress (APC) as insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, noting that while the economic woes facing citizens get worse by wanton killings, banditry, kidnapping, and acts of terrorism, the party continues on its external borrowing spree.
It accused President Tinubu and the APC of weaponising hunger and poverty and pushing to foist a one-party state on Nigerians by stifling opposition figures and voices.
Among other resolutions, the PDP ratified the composition of the Committee on the Zoning of National Offices ahead of its National Convention and agreed to consider the resolution of the South-East Zonal Executives of the PDP as regards the issue of the National Secretary of the party.
The full text of the communique read:
“The National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great Party, at its 99th meeting today, Tuesday, May 27, 2025 thoroughly examined the State of affairs of the Nation and the Party and resolved as follows:
“NEC expresses serious concern over the sorry and melancholic state of affairs of our Nation under the irredeemably exploitative, insensitive and anti-people All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“NEC condemns the worsening insecurity; the wanton killings, banditry, kidnapping, marauding of communities and other acts of terrorism in various parts of our country, emboldened by President Tinubu’s apparent negligence and abdication of his Constitutional duty to ensure the safety and security of the nation and her citizens.
“NEC also laments the worsening economic hardship and extreme poverty in the country occasioned by the ill-advised and ill-implemented policies of the Tinubu administration; hike in fuel price, wanton increase in electricity tariff, multiple taxes and unexplained charges on services, resulting in collapse of the productive sector, closure of millions of businesses, massive loss of jobs, rise in criminality and general sense of misery across the country.
“NEC condemns the policy inconsistency, wholesale corruption, massive treasury-looting, budget padding and diversion of public funds that pervade the Tinubu administration resulting in infrastructural retrogression and loss of investors’ confidence in our system.
“Furthermore, NEC stands in firm resistance to the sinister plot by the Tinubu-led APC to turn Nigeria into a one-Party totalitarian state as evidenced in the desperate attempts to stifle and annihilate opposition parties through open siege, threats and intimidation of opposition figures and institutions of democracy in Nigeria. It is clear that this plot is borne out of APC’s mortal fear of inevitable defeat in 2027 due to its dismal failure in government.
“Pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution, NEC received and ratified the composition of the Committee on the National Convention and approved the conduct of the National Convention on Thursday 28th to Saturday 30th August 2025.
“NEC also received and ratified the composition of the Committee on the Zoning of National Offices ahead of the National Convention.
“The members of the Zoning Committee are Gov. Douye Diri -Chairman, Gov. Dauda Lawal -Vice Chairman and Gov. Caleb Mutfwang -Secretary.
“The members of the National Convention Committee are Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri- Chairman, Gov. Ademola Adeleke- Vice Chairman and Gov. Peter Mbah – Secretary.
“NEC also received the Resolution of the South East Zonal Executive with regard to the issue of the National Secretary of our Party. NEC resolved to consider the Resolution of the South East Zonal Executive at the next NEC meeting scheduled to hold on Monday, 30th June, 2025.”