Ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC), meeting of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), slated for Thursday, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, has cautioned non- NEC members to steer clear of the meeting venue.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said this in an advisory sent out to members on Tuesday.
The party’s Caucus which consists of high ranking party leaders will meet on Wednesday to set the tune for the NEC meeting.
A high ranking party leader who spoke in confidence said, “Already discussions are being held around how the party should handle reports of anti- party activists against notable party leaders who sabotaged us in 2023.
“The caucus is to discuss and suggest action points to NEC for consideration, approval and implementation.”
Ologunagba had in his advisory explained that the NEC meeting which is scheduled to commence at 2:00pm on Thursday, April 18, 2024, is restricted to only constitutionally accredited members who are the only persons allowed into the venue of the meeting.
Ologunagba said, “The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) informs all members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) that the 98th NEC meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 18, 2024 will commence at 2pm.
“By this announcement all NEC members are expected to arrive promptly at the NEC Hall of the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja for the commencement of the meeting.
“For the purpose of accreditation, only Constitutionally Accredited members of NEC will be allowed into the meeting.
“All members of the Party should please take note and be guided accordingly.”
The party’s NEC consists of over 100 members including: The party’s National Chairman who shall be the chairman of NEC, serving and former Presidents and Vice Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, members of the BoT, principal officers of the Senate who are members of the party and not more than eighteen (18) serving Senators spread across the country who are members of the party.
Others include: Principal Officers of the House of Representatives of the party and not more than twenty-four (24) serving members of the House of Representatives spread across the country who are members of the party; among others.
However, the NEC meeting is to be preceded by a meeting of the party’s National Caucus made up of a fewer number of senior party leaders.
They include: the party’s National Chairman, who is also chairman of the caucus; serving and former Presidents and Vice Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; who are members of the party; principal officers of the Senate who are members of the party; principal officers of the House of Representatives who are members of the party, all serving State Governors produced by the party who are still members of the party; Chairman and Secretary of the BoT among others.
Meanwhile, a series of meetings are being held by power blocs to strategize on how best to take advantage of plans to restructure the party.
It was gathered that select members of the House pf Representatives sympathetic to the cause of the Minister of the Federal Capital Teritory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, met.
They were said to have tried to sway others into passing a vote of confidence on the party’s National Chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum but that the issue did not get to the stage of being discussed in the larger PDP House caucus meeting.
Those opposed to Wike but sympathetic to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, were said to have engaged in last ditch efforts to mobilize support for former Benue State Governor, Gabreil Suswam, who is angling to replace Damagum as the party’s chairman.
The source said the meeting which was convened at the instance of the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Kingsley Chinda a known Wike acolyte and Ali Isa minority whip on behalf of all PDP House of Representatives was “tension soaked.”
This, the source said, “Was because those canvassing for a vote of confidence for Damagum didn’t want to hear anything about calls for sanctions for Wike for his various acts of sabotage against the party interests. Those in this category are believed to be acting at the behest of Atiku.”
