The Peoples Democratic Party Governors and other key stakeholders have postponed their National Executive Committee meeting, originally scheduled for October 24, to November 28.
The decision to delay the NEC meeting was reached after nearly four hours of deliberation on Tuesday night.
Addressing journalists at the Bauchi Governors’ Lodge in Asokoro, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed explained that the postponement was necessary to allow the party to focus on the upcoming Ondo State Governorship election, set for November 16.
He stated, “Rising from the consultative meeting of the various organs of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Party resolved as follows:
“The National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting originally slated for October 24, 2024, has been rescheduled to November 28, 2024.
“The postponement is to ensure that the party goes into the forthcoming Ondo gubernatorial election of November 16, 2024, with the unity and strength demanded to unseat the floundering All Progressive Congress, APC, government in the state.”
Mohammed emphasized the importance of unity within the PDP, urging members to avoid any divisive comments that could jeopardize ongoing efforts to strengthen the party for its role as the country’s primary opposition, with an eye toward winning the 2027 general election.
He also listed the party organs that participated in the meeting:
– The PDP Governors’ Forum
– The Board of Trustees
– National Working Committee
– National Assembly Leadership of the PDP Caucus
– Forum of Former Governors of the party
Meanwhile, sources within the party revealed that there has been growing momentum to extend the tenure of the acting PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum, despite a prior agreement made in Akure last week.
In that consensus, PDP governors and members of the National Working Committee had agreed that Damagum would step down during the now-postponed NEC meeting.
This arrangement was initially seen as a way to ease tensions within the party, particularly following its loss in the 2023 presidential election to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
However, according to reports from Daily Trust, some factions within the PDP—led by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang—are pushing for Damagum to remain in office until after the Ondo governorship election.
These factions argue that Damagum should be allowed to resign voluntarily after the November 16 election, providing him with what supporters are calling a “soft landing.”
This new approach is reportedly gaining traction, particularly among Damagum’s supporters, who point to the North Central zone’s delay in nominating a successor as a key reason for the proposed extension.