Following a stormy lead-up to what some analysts viewed as a make-or-break National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, prominent leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday expressed optimism about the party’s prospects as a formidable political organisation.

The acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, at the 100th NEC meeting, highlighted the progress made in reconciling party members, stating, “To our detractors who thought this meeting would be rancorous and mark the end of the party, we have disappointed them. This is the beauty of the PDP, the only party in this country that knows the mechanism to solve its problems rancour-free.”

Addressing reporters, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, reaffirmed the PDP’s unity, dismissing claims of factions or internal divisions. He emphasised the party’s commitment to delivering good governance and restoring public confidence.

“This is a miracle of the PDP, the party that has history, pedigree, and the human capital to deliver Nigeria. We have been engrossed in controversies and challenges, not created by us, but created for us. Yet, we have been navigating them successfully, unlike the other parties,” Mohammed said.

He commended the National Working Committee for resolving internal disagreements and fostering unity, adding that recent signs of discord had been effectively addressed.

“The NWC has collapsed all differences and wranglings. They met before this meeting. What you’ve been seeing in terms of press releases and counter-statements has stopped, and you will not see them again,” he said.

Mohammed also lauded the efforts of the BoT, National Assembly caucuses, and state chapters in maintaining the party’s strength and cohesion, particularly at the grassroots level.

“There is no element of wrangling in the state chapters. And that is where our strengths lie. We thank you, our state chairmen, for keeping the party alive, often with limited resources, and ensuring that PDP remains intact and functional,” he noted.

Dismissing media reports of defections and internal rifts, Mohammed characterised such narratives as “cosmetic” and designed to undermine the PDP’s image.

“The news of people leaving the party is all cosmetic. They were created to diminish us, but they have failed,” he asserted.

Speaking further, Damagum issued a stern warning to party members, urging them to prioritise the party’s unity and collective interest over personal grievances.

He called for discipline and loyalty, stressing the importance of focusing on the party’s strengths amidst rising internal discord and external pressures.

“If you truly love this party, now is the time to channel your energy into promoting its strengths and values, rather than undermining it. Unless, of course, you are among those who have been contracted to destroy our party. Let me be clear: enough is enough,” he said.

Acknowledging recent internal tensions and divisions, Damagum referred to a contentious issue that had necessitated what he described as a “painful decision.”

“The issue that recently caused tension and division within our ranks has been thoroughly discussed, and a decision has been reached. Unfortunately, it was a painful one, and I will not delve into the details now. We will address this further at the appropriate time,” Damagum stated.

After the meeting, Damagum confirmed the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary and announced that the next NEC meeting, scheduled for July 23, 2025, will focus on preparations for the party’s national convention.

“This meeting was a one-agenda meeting, which is to discuss the outcome of our interaction with the Independent National Electoral Commission regarding the National Secretary,” Damagum said. “We were all united in our decision, and we agreed that Senator Anyanwu will continue to act as National Secretary.”

He added, “The next NEC meeting on July 23 will enable us to convene a proper NEC, where myself and Senator Anyanwu will sign notices to fulfil regulatory requirements by INEC in convening meetings.”

The PDP yesterday moved its Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting from Wadata Plaza, the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, to the Yar’Adua Centre in the Central Business District of the Federal Capital Territory, citing security concerns following a police blockade.

The party criticised the presence of armed policemen from the FCT Police Command, who reportedly barred BoT members from accessing the secretariat, describing the incident as harassment. Despite this, the PDP later held an expanded caucus meeting at Wadata Plaza after an earlier siege at the venue.

Before the expanded caucus meeting, PDP governors held a closed-door session at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja. Among those in attendance were Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Heavily armed police officers were deployed to the national secretariat as tensions flared between factions of the party.

By 8:30 a.m., over 70 armed policemen had taken strategic positions around the secretariat, where both factions had scheduled meetings. Dalaba Street, leading to the secretariat, was barricaded with police trucks, and scores of suspected thugs loitering near the premises were dispersed.

Secretariat workers who arrived early were asked to leave, while a few who reported later were allowed entry.

The heavy police presence followed a clash of directives from senior party officials regarding the party’s much-anticipated 100th National Executive Committee meeting, originally scheduled for yesterday.

Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to holding the NEC meeting as planned. During a press conference in Abuja on Sunday night, he stated, “For the avoidance of doubt, the National Working Committee assures all party members that the 100th NEC meeting will proceed as scheduled tomorrow, Monday, June 30, 2025 (yesterday), at the NEC Hall of the Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat, Abuja.”

Arapaja’s statement came in direct response to a notice issued by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, announcing that the NEC meeting had been replaced with a “Special Expanded National Caucus Meeting.”

Anyanwu’s notice invited a wide range of stakeholders, including former governors, immediate past gubernatorial candidates, ex-NWC members, state chairmen, and the PDP National Assembly caucus, to attend the caucus meeting at 2:00 p.m.

Some NEC and Board of Trustees (BoT) members, including Hajia Maina Ciroma, were denied access to the secretariat amid the confusion.

MEANWHILE, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has denied reports that its operatives sealed off the Peoples Democratic Party secretariat in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

In a statement issued yesterday, the command described the reports as “false, misleading, and not reflective of the true situation on ground.” It explained that police presence in the area was solely to maintain law and order and ensure public safety, in line with their constitutional duties.

The statement, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, clarified that at no time did officers seal off the PDP secretariat.

Adeh also urged media organisations to verify information through the office of the Police Public Relations Officer before publication, underscoring the need for factual and responsible journalism.
Bode George condemns denial of access to PDP BoT members, slams police actions
Former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, has criticised the denial of access to the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) members at the national secretariat in Abuja.

Reacting to the incident, which occurred during the National Executive Committee meeting yesterday, George described the action as a deliberate attempt to stifle internal democracy within the party. The incident forced the BoT to relocate its meeting to the Yar’Adua Centre in the Central Business District.

“They said we will not hold our meetings in our office? What is going on? We must avoid that pit-line, the madness. What is it? Can’t we sit and talk? What is the essence of democracy? Nigerians are watching,” George said.

He continued, “You came to our office, surrounded by police, because you want to have a meeting? You want to turn us into North Korea? Or turn this country into Russia? We will not allow it. Nigerians will not allow it. I have seen both sides. Let them be very careful. Allow everybody to walk according to the law of the land.”

George also criticised the police for barricading the party secretariat, calling the action unacceptable and a violation of the rights of party elders.

According to him, some of the security agents present claimed they were acting on “orders from above.”

“You hear biblically — this is the voice of Jacob, but the hand of Esau. Whoever gave the order from above, we have heard it before. I have been on both sides — the military and the civil,” George stated.

The National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the All Progressives Congress, Ijeoma Arodiogbu, has revealed that governors from Bayelsa, Rivers, Plateau, Kano, and either Abia or Enugu States are expected to defect to the ruling party within the next two months.

Arodiogbu made the disclosure while dismissing reports of a potential opposition coalition, describing it as a “media stunt.”

In a statement, Arodiogbu said, “We are talking about governors from Bayelsa, Rivers, Plateau, Kano, and either Abia or Enugu. In the next two months, you will see them join us officially. This idea of forming a so-called opposition coalition is nothing but a media stunt. Nigerians are aligning with a party that is delivering, and that is the APC. Of course, Bayelsa is in the picture; that’s why I mentioned it.”

He also hinted at the possibility of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke defecting to the APC. “On Adeleke, I can’t give a definitive answer, but I know he has made moves,” Arodiogbu said.

The APC leader further mentioned that Governors Alex Otti of Abia and the governor of Enugu State were also being considered potential defectors.

The opposition coalition, formed a few months ago with the backing of prominent Nigerians, is reportedly still weighing its options on which political party to align with ahead of upcoming elections.

Former Senate President and chairman of the National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, Dr Bukola Saraki, yesterday, noted that there was no victor and no vanquished from the NEC meeting.

“The winner today is the PDP. Another winner is Nigeria’s democracy because, without a vibrant opposition, democracy dies. Again, millions of our party members and supporters, who are located in all the 774 LGAs across the country also emerged winners.

“To achieve victory for the party and the great people under its golden umbrella, all the leaders at the meeting resolved to jettison our differences and rally together to pursue a common goal: forget the past, rebuild trust that might have been broken, and give peace a chance.

“I am particularly happy about the meeting for two reasons. One, we all agreed on the need for unity as a way of sending a signal to the entire nation that PDP can only wax stronger. This is because we have to live up to the expectations of the generality of our people as the only alternative, capable of providing good leadership to our country. Two, the spirit of give and take dominated our frank discussions.

“From this point, we need to continue working further for unity, cooperation, and stability towards the next NEC meeting fixed for July 23rd. After that, we will focus on having a hitch-free National Convention.

“It is good that we have disappointed the pessimists. I hope that with the outcome of today’s meeting, we have disproved the false propaganda being circulated in some quarters that those of us who chose to remain in PDP are only scheming for the death of the party as opposed to building a strong opposition. If this false narrative were true, the leaders who shifted positions to give peace a chance would have chosen an alternative course of action. However, we are determined to make the party a strong opposition, capable of winning the next general election and serving our people better. We only need to forge ahead along these lines”, he added.