Despite the initial anxiety and furore that trailed the 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC), the Board of Trustees (BoT) and other organs of the party met Monday at the national secretariat in Abuja.

Observers believe the outcome of the meeting was a reflection of the reconciliation process championed by former Senate President Bukola Saraki-led committee.

At the end of deliberation, the party agreed to have its next NEC meeting on July 23, 2025.

In like manner, the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje recently exited from office on health grounds, also fixed its own NEC for July 24, 2025.

The PDP NEC meeting which started around 5pm, had in attendance five state governors, namely; Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) and Douye Duri of Bayelsa state.

 Others were the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, National Vice  Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, BoT Secretary, Ahmed Makarfi, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro.

Also in attendance were party chieftains like Chief Bode George, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governors, former and serving lawmakers, former gubernatorial candidates and principal officers among others.

Although the embattled party scribe, Senator Samuel Anyawu, was not sighted anywhere near the NEC meeting, a reliable source confirmed that it could be part of the peace process.

Chief Kosheodo Setonji, who was acting all this while, though at the meeting, did not play the role of the secretary, while Udo-Okoye, who the governors had sometime proclaimed as secretary, was also seen, but not in that capacity.

However, after a close-door meeting, Damagum told newsmen that a decision had been unanimously taken to reinstate Anyanwu as the party’s national secretary.

Addressing the meeting, Damagum said the agenda for the day centred around various issues, including the next NEC.

He expressed joy that despite challenges experienced by the major opposition party, tension, according to him, had reduced, and there is a new lease of life within its fold.

“We will channel our energy towards building our party. That said, we are using this medium to caution mischief makers and those contracted to destroy PDP against de-marketing the party to stop it,” Damagum said.

Also speaking, the BoT chair, Wabara said that no matter what the party’s detractors feel, the party would not die.

Wabara, who hailed the National Working Committee (NWC) for organising the NEC, said it was a testament to the fact that Nigerians still love PDP.

“We shall survive because the God of politics is in this party. We are the beacon of hope, and we would no longer allow any crack that could destabilise us again,” Wabara said.

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In his own remarks, Bauchi state governor and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, said the crisis plaguing the party was created for PDP, saying that notwithstanding, the party still has history and capacity to deliver come 2027.

“All those people leaving the party are mere cosmetic in nature in order to demean us, but we are still here,” he said.

Mohammed then thumbed up the NWC for collapsing all wrangling, adding: “PDP is strong alone, and there should be no excuse for joining any coalition. For us in PDP, there is no more war. We are with the NWC and also pleading to the media for their support.” 

In a related development, the APC fixed July 24 for a NEC meeting to nominate a new national chairman of the party.

Addressing newsmen after an emergency meeting at the party’s national secretariat Monday in Abuja, the NWC, led by the Deputy National Secretary, Barrister Festus Faunter, said a notice for the NEC meeting had already been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Briefing journalists, Faunter said: “The National Working Committee, in view of the provisions of our Constitution, accepted and endorsed the replacement of the National Working Committee with an acting Chairman. And our Constitution provides that where the Chairman comes from, the Deputy National Chairman from that particular zone is going to be the acting Chairman. And so, in compliance with that provision of the Constitution, the Deputy National Chairman North, in the person of Ali Buka Dalori, was endorsed by the National Working Committee as the acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress.”

On the forthcoming NEC meeting, he said: “The other very important aspect that we think you should also know is the approval of the notice for a NEC meeting, the National Executive Committee meeting.

“As you are all aware, the National Executive Committee is the apex body of the party. And so, whatever it is that we do now, including the endorsement of the National Chairman, must also receive the blessings of the NEC. And during the meeting, if they so desire that a new chairman is nominated, we’ll also accept such nomination and then wait for the convention where the final position of the party will be made as far as the substantive chairman is concerned.

“So that’s as much as I can tell you. And the date, the suggested date for the NEC meeting is the 24th of July, 2025. It’s going to be here in the premises of the APC.”