The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has intervened in the crisis of confidence between major stakeholders and the party’s Caretaker Committee in Kogi State.
The NWC directed the Caretaker Committee to stop taking actions harmful to the party’s interests after 18 out of 21 PDP Local Government Council chairmen passed a vote of no confidence in the committee.
In a memo signed by PDP National Organising Secretary, Capt. Umar Bature (Retd), the NWC reminded the committee that the power to conduct congresses resides with the NWC, not any other committee.
Bature said, “My attention has been drawn to the press release you issued on the above subject; for your information, elected State Chapters or appointed Caretaker Committees do not have any right to conduct Congresses/Primaries – this is the constitutional powers of the National Working Committee.”
Bature further stated, “In view of this, you are advised to immediately withdraw the statement and refer to Article 4 on Page 4 of the Guidelines for the conduct of Ward, LGA, State, Zonal Congresses which states that: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, the actual conduct of elections at the Ward, Local Government Area, State and Zonal Congresses shall be by the Congresses Committee at each level appointed by the National Working Committee'”.
A pro-PDP support group, PDP Frontliners, commended the NWC for preventing an implosion in the Kogi State chapter. The group’s statement, signed by Alhaji Hussein Mohammed, Mr. Moses Abidemi, and Mr. Dan Okafor, accused the Caretaker Committee chairman, Senator Laah Danjuma, and Secretary, Senator Philip Gyunka, of trying to subvert the will of Kogi PDP members.
Abidemi said, “The PDP Frontliners hereby demand immediate disbandment of the controversial Kogi PDP Caretaker Committee… We applaud the PDP NWC for an emphatic memo dated August 7, which effectively scuttled plans by the clique… We also applaud the firm stance of PDP LGA chairmen in Kogi state… One is (particularly) appalled that as former lawmakers who ordinarily should have proper grasp of party processes… have displayed gross incompetence and lack of grit…”
The PDP group expressed optimism that the party will overcome its current challenges and emerge as the party of choice for Nigerians come 2027.
