The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Tanimu Turaki, has unanimously ratified a pivotal decision by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC). This decision involves appealing the recent Court of Appeal judgment concerning the party’s leadership at the Supreme Court. The party’s National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Ini Ememobong, announced this development to journalists following the 103rd NEC meeting held in Abuja on Friday.

Mr. Ememobong confirmed that the appeal has already been formally lodged, and applications have been filed for an accelerated hearing. This strategic legal move aims to safeguard the party’s legal standing amidst ongoing challenges. He further elaborated that the NEC meeting was specifically convened to deliberate upon and formally ratify various critical decisions previously made by the NWC and the Board of Trustees (BoT), which acted on behalf of the PDP’s highest decision-making body.

During the meeting, the NEC reached a consensus, unanimously agreeing that all prior decisions had been made in utmost good faith. Consequently, these decisions were ratified without any dissent. Mr. Ememobong conveyed this information to the party’s supporters, assuring them that “the process of saving our party is on course; all hope is not lost.” He also clarified that while the legal battle progresses at the apex court, these actions do not impede the ongoing internal reconciliation efforts within the party. The PDP remains open to a “discontinuance or withdrawal” of the suit if agreeable terms can be reached between the contending factions.

Addressing the status of the internal rift, Mr. Ememobong characterized reconciliation as a “journey toward a destination.” He noted encouraging progress, citing a visible de-escalation of hurtful rhetoric and hostilities between the two groups. He metaphorically stated, “The bus has left the station; the train has left the station. While we have not yet arrived at the final destination of total reconciliation, milestones have been achieved.” He stressed the importance of avoiding “mutually-assured destruction” to ensure that the party’s candidates have a solid platform for future elections.

The ultimate goal of these peace talks, Mr. Ememobong emphasized, is to fortify the PDP as a formidable opposition party, ensuring it does not become an appendage of any other political entity. He dismissed circulating reports of a parallel national convention scheduled for Sunday, explaining that such sensitive matters are being managed through internal dialogue to prevent “inconvenient truths” from becoming public. He concluded by urging all members to actively participate in the ongoing digital membership drive and reiterated the party’s commitment to providing Nigerians with a viable alternative to the ruling party, acknowledging that “time is a critical element” for achieving consensus.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the meeting saw robust attendance and apologies from key party organs, including the BoT, state chairmen, and former NWC members, which signals a consolidated front within the party.