The two central figures in the ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, were noticeably absent from the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting yesterday.

Perhaps sensing that they have overstayed their welcome in the party, the two leaders kept their distance while the NEC rebuffed attempts by some conflict promoters to postpone the 99th meeting of the highest decision-making organ of the PDP.

In a 10-point communiqué read by the acting national chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, after the meeting, NEC disclosed, among other resolutions, that it had received and ratified the composition of the Committee on the Zoning of National Offices ahead of the National Convention, as well as the resolution of the South-East Zonal Executive regarding the issue of the National Secretary of the party.

While announcing that it had resolved to consider the resolution of the South-East Zonal Executive at the next NEC meeting, scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025, the communiqué listed Douye Diri as chairman, with Governors Dauda Lawal and Caleb Mutfwang as vice-chairman and secretary, respectively, of the zoning committee.

Governors Ahmadu Fintiri (chairman), Ademola Adeleke (vice-chairman), and Peter Mbah (secretary) were also named as members of the National Convention Committee.

However, a comprehensive look at the communiqué showed that the NEC merely evaded confronting the crucial issues hindering the party’s ability to build a cohesive opposition political platform.

For instance, on the contentious issue of who should be the substantive national secretary of the party, after the former occupant, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, left temporarily to contest the governorship election in Imo State, the committee deferred action on the matter to June 30, during the 100th NEC meeting.

The secretaryship contention is among the allegations of indiscipline and anti-party actions for which the 26-member Tom Ikimi Committee was constituted in August 2024. These issues include breaches of party agreements and a spate of defections, which NEC was expected to address.

It was learnt that the meeting refused to consider contentious issues to avoid jeopardising the ongoing reconciliation being pursued by the Abubakar Bukola Saraki-led “Way Forward Committee.”

Recall that the party’s national caucus, the previous day (Monday), had set up a committee to advise on the feasibility of going ahead with the NEC meeting, given the challenges facing the party.

Checks by The Guardian revealed that although the committee’s report did not favour holding the NEC meeting, proceeding with it, as Damagum stated, was to demonstrate that, despite the challenges, the PDP still operates with unity and focus.

However, despite that symbolic gesture, the Acting National Chairman disclosed that another NEC meeting has been planned to tackle pending issues, reiterating that the meeting was held to prove that the PDP is still capable of convening NEC meetings, contrary to insinuations by critics.

On the state of the nation, the PDP NEC expressed serious concern over “the sorry and melancholic state of affairs of our nation under the irredeemably exploitative, insensitive, and anti-people All Progressives Congress administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” Other resolutions contained in the communiqué included the NEC’s condemnation of:

“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.

“The worsening economic hardship and extreme poverty in the country, occasioned by the ill-advised and ill-implemented policies of the Tinubu administration, such as the hike in fuel prices, the wanton increase in electricity tariffs, multiple taxes, and unexplained charges on services. These have resulted in the collapse of the productive sector, closure of millions of businesses, massive loss of jobs, a rise in criminality, and a general sense of misery across the country.

“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 the loss of investors’ confidence in our system.”

The meeting further stated that 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 by 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 the APC’s mortal fear of inevitable defeat in 2027 due to its dismal failure in government.”

Earlier, the PDP Board of Trustees chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, urged party leaders to genuinely recommit themselves to the party, remarking: “We must be honest with ourselves; there is still much work to do. Divisions, mistrust, and lingering grievances within our ranks have at times hampered our progress and blurred our vision.”

He added: “As the party of the people, we must recommit to healing these wounds and restoring faith among our members. 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. We must open our hearts to forgive, to dialogue, and to debate.

“No ambition, no grievance, and no misunderstanding should ever be allowed to override the collective interests of our party and the hopes of the Nigerian people who are yearning for our return to national leadership.

“Let us initiate a genuine and structural reconciliation process led by respected elders that reaches down to the grassroots and extends a hand of peace to all aggrieved members, both old and new.”

PDP govs accuse FG of intimidation, vow resilienc e
The Peoples Democratic Party governors have accused the Federal Government of employing intimidation and exclusion tactics, pledging to resist such measures and remain committed to good governance.

The accusation was made during the PDP’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held yesterday in Abuja. Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, addressed the gathering, outlining the challenges faced by the party and its members.

Mohammed stated that the current administration had created a unique set of obstacles, subtle provocations, and shifting political dynamics. Despite these challenges, he emphasised that the PDP remains united and resolute in its mandate.

“Despite these pressures, our members remain steadfast and unwavering. There is no form of intimidation or persuasion that we, as elected governors and members, have not encountered. Yet, we remain resolute in our commitment,” Mohammed said. He further asserted that the PDP’s unity sets it apart from other parties, which he described as fragmented and divided.

“Other parties have been fragmented, with factions emerging here and there. But it is undeniable that we stand together as one,” he stated. The PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman highlighted the party’s efforts to maintain visibility and address governance issues through state-level meetings and communiqués. He cited recent meetings in Plateau, Taraba, Oyo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Bauchi States as evidence of the party’s active engagement.

“We have been conducting meetings across various states and issuing communiqués addressing critical governance issues. These efforts are aimed at maintaining our visibility and demonstrating that we are not yielding to the pressures around us,” Mohammed explained.

Mohammed commended the patience and dedication of PDP leaders, describing the 99th NEC meeting as a triumph of democracy and good governance over national adversities. He also revealed plans for subcommittees to enhance the party’s productivity and impact.

“This 99th NEC meeting represents a triumph of democracy and good governance over the adversities we are currently facing in our nation. We deeply appreciate the patience and dedication of our leaders, who have worked tirelessly to bring us to this point,” he noted. The PDP governors reaffirmed their readiness to endure criticism and hardships while fulfilling their responsibilities.

“No amount of intimidation or exclusion by the federal government will deter us. We are ready to endure the challenges, the criticisms, and the hardships that come our way,” Mohammed declared.

Lamido urges PDP to expel Wike, warns of party’s collapse
Former Governor of Jigawa State and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Sule Lamido, has called for the immediate expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, labelling him a “political disaster” and an “enemy within” whose presence jeopardises the party’s survival.

In a candid interview with select media outlets, Lamido decried what he termed the erosion of the party’s foundational values, warning that individuals undermining the PDP from within pose an existential threat.

“Wike is a disaster. He is a product of the PDP, made relevant, nurtured, and celebrated by the party. But today, he turns around to destroy it,” Lamido said. “To seal the PDP secretariat, an institution that gave you life, is un-African, un-Nigerian, and a total abuse of power.”

Lamido criticised Wike’s justification of his actions based on his financial contributions to the party. “So what if he funded the party?” he asked. “If a son clothes his mother, does that make the mother his servant? Wike’s thinking is warped. He lacks the cultural and moral grounding that our political tradition demands.”

He also questioned the PDP National Working Committee for its inaction, demanding decisive measures against Wike and others undermining the party. “What exactly is the NWC afraid of? Why hasn’t Wike been expelled? Why is Ortom still in the Board of Trustees after publicly endorsing Peter Obi of Labour Party? These are fundamental breaches,” he said.

Lamido, who also served as Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, criticised other senior party figures, particularly former Benue Governor Samuel Ortom, for their alleged disloyalty. “I cannot sit in the same meeting with impostors. Until the party removes these people, I will not attend PDP meetings. I am still a loyal member, but I won’t dignify this rot,” he declared.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for reportedly intervening to reopen the sealed PDP secretariat, suggesting the President might be seeing through Wike’s actions.

“Ironically, the man Wike is trying to impress—the President—was the one who called him to order. Even Tinubu is beginning to see that Wike is unreliable, without tradition, without pedigree. And I assure you, he will soon abandon him too,” Lamido said.

Lamido further warned that the weakening of opposition parties threatens Nigeria’s democracy. “The attempt to kill off opposition parties is not natural political evolution; it’s state-sponsored sabotage.

They are using institutions like the EFCC to blackmail people into the APC. That’s an abuse of state power, and it’s dangerous for the country and for Tinubu himself,” he cautioned.

Responding to claims that the PDP’s crisis stems from leadership failures and opportunists within the party, Lamido attributed the decline to individuals lacking the PDP’s founding values. “The decline began when people with no understanding of the PDP’s foundational values joined us. They came with money and ego, not with service and sacrifice. That’s not how parties work. That’s how businesses work,” he stated.

Lamido called for a national coalition of opposition parties to address Nigeria’s challenges collectively. “Let’s not call it a northern coalition. This is a Nigerian crisis. The hunger, the pain, the anger—they’re everywhere. What we need is a national coalition to save Nigeria, not another sectional alliance,” he emphasised.

As the PDP grapples with internal divisions, Lamido’s comments serve as a rallying cry for introspection, discipline, and renewal. “The PDP built this country after the military era. It brought peace, unity, and democracy. It must not be allowed to fall into the hands of those who neither understand its history nor care about its future,” he concluded.

Dele Momodu lauds Tinubu for curbing Wike’s ‘excesses’
A former presidential aspirant and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dele Momodu, has commended President Bola Tinubu for reining in the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, over actions perceived as high-handed.

Momodu, who is also the publisher of Ovation magazine, expressed his views in a post on his X handle (formerly Twitter). He stated: “We used to think we have two Presidents in Nigeria, Tinubu and Wike. Now, we know Wike has a boss who can checkmate his excesses.”

The comment follows Wike’s recent decision to seal the premises of several organisations, including the PDP and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, over alleged non-payment of ground rent for their Abuja offices.

In what was seen as a rebuke of Wike’s actions, President Tinubu intervened, granting the affected organisations the legally mandated fourteen days to regularise their accounts with the FCT authorities.

Elated by the President’s intervention, Momodu addressed Tinubu, saying: “I have just read the news here in America that you have stepped into the matter of your cantankerous Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, who sealed the National Secretariat of the PDP, the biggest rival of your ruling party, APC, and properties of other defaulters in Abuja earlier today.

“While no one should condone non-compliance of government obligations, government must always restrain itself from vindictive outbursts such as that of Nigeria’s most querulous politician, who I’m sure is fast becoming a liability to your government. The decision to stop Wike today achieved several points in your favour.”

Momodu further emphasised that many Nigerians had thought there were two Presidents running the country. “Now, we know that Wike has a boss who can checkmate his excesses,” he noted.

He also criticised Wike’s handling of political matters in Rivers State, saying: “How I wished you had stopped his reckless disruption and distraction of the Sim Fubara government in Rivers State and saved the hapless people from this unfortunate contraption called emergency rule.”

Momodu concluded by urging the President to rescue Nigerians from the hardship he attributed to Wike’s actions. “Wike’s assignments are far smaller than that of Minister Dave Umahi, yet the man is so humble while Wike subjects Nigerians to his tautological press conferences as if he’s running his own federal government and not under anyone’s control. Sir, there can’t be two captains in one ship, and I hope Wike got that message loud and clear from your powerful intervention today.”