From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The battle for the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shifted to the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for October 24.

This is coming on the heels of the intervention by the PDP Governors’ Forum in the crisis that broke out in the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party last week.

The PDP NWC broke into factions last Friday, following the suspension of the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade for alleged ‘insubordination and disloyalty.’

The NWC, under the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, had in a statement by the party’s Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, announced the suspension of Ologunagba and Ajibade and directed their deputies to step into their positions in acting capacity.

In retaliation, Ologunagba, in  a statement by another faction of the NWC, announced the suspension of Damagum as acting national chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as national secretary. He later announced the appointment of the National Treasurer, Yayari Mohammed as Damagum’s replacement.

However, the PDP-GF, in a communique, yesterday, after its meetings, on Monday night, and yesterday morning, said after its intervention in conjunction with the Board of Trustees (BoT), it was resolved that all the suspensions were quashed, while NWC members should return to status quo.

The meeting, according to the communique, was attended by the chairman of the forum Bala Mohammed  (Bauchi), Siminalayi Fubara(Rivers), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo). Also in attendance were Govs Ademola Adeleke, Dauda Lawal, Sheriff Oborevwori, Ahmadu Fintiri, Caleb Mutfwang, Peter Mbah of Osun, Zamfara, Delta, Adamawa and Plateau states, respectively.

The communique, which was read by the chairman of the PDP-GF, Gov Mohammed of Bauchi State, noted that “the organs of the party were careful in addressing issues particularly those over which there were pending legal disputes.

“That the NWC should revert to the status quo and remain united in the interest of the party and the nation. That all suspensions issued on officials across the parties within the NWC have been lifted forthwith.

“That there are no factions in the party and minor issues should not be blown out of proportion. We also urge that occupants of positions of responsibility should be mindful of their vows to serve and grow the party from strength to strength, consolidating on the dreams of our founding fathers.”

Damagum, while speaking to journalists on the position of the PDP governors on the crisis in the NWC, said there was no crisis in the party organ ab initio.

He said: “There is no crisis. The governors are a critical organ of the party. When they speak, we have to look at it holistically.”

Regardless, Daily Sun gathered that, with the intervention of the PDP-GF in the NWC crisis, the major gladiators in the battle for the soul of the opposition party, are warming up for the NEC meeting scheduled for next Thursday.

A member of  the NEC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said despite the truce brokered by the governors, the underlying issues that sparked off the crisis in the NWC were yet to be resolved.

The party official, who identified the Rivers political crisis, as one of the bones of contention, said the various interests would take their case to the NEC.

He said: “The NWC under Damagum approved the congresses in Rivers State, not minding the pending litigations. As you know, the results of all the congresses will be presented to the NEC for ratification. I can tell you that it is not over yet.”

The NEC added: “If they want to replace the NWC with a caretaker committee, so be it. But some of us will insist at the NEC that the right thing is done.”

Recall that party chiefs loyal to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have been locked in an intense tussle over the control of the party ahead of the 2027 polls.

Prior to the last NEC meeting, on April 18, the party was enveloped in tension as both groups battled to outwit each other. However, the NEC adjourned to August 31, to enable the North Central caucus to present a replacement for the immediate past national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in line with the 2017 Constitution of the party. However, the NWC rescheduled the NEC meeting for October 24.

A member of the PDP NEC, Diran Odeyemi, has said that in the aftermath of the intervention by the PDP Governors’ Forum in the crisis that polarised the NWC, other issues would be resolved at the October 24 NEC meeting.

Odeyemi, who was reacting to claims by some party chiefs that the underlying issues in the NWC crisis were yet to be resolved, said the governors had done the best they could do.

Speaking to the Daily Sun, he said: “It is one thing after the other. The mere fact that the Governors’ Forum came alive to their responsibility of ensuring peace in the party is an indication that peace will soon return to PDP.

“That is the first thing they ought to have done. All other issues will be addressed with them. And of course, the National Executive Committee meeting which is on October 24 will answer a lot of questions, particularly on all grey areas. For now, we need peace in the party. That is how far the governors can go.”

However, while stakeholders in the North Central are warming up for the NEC, a Federal High Court in Abuja, last Friday, gave an order barring the NEC and BoT from replacing Damagum, until December 2025, when the tenure of the current NWC would elapse.

Nevertheless, Daily Sun gathered that some interest groups are insisting that the acting chairman must revert to his former position as Deputy National Chairman (North), so that the North Central, where Ayu hails from, can produce his replacement as enshrined in the Article 47(6) of the PDP Constitution. A top party source told our correspondent that a group of stakeholders have renewed moves to draft former Senate President, David Mark, into the leadership of the party.

A source close to the former Senate President confirmed to Daily Sun that there was renewed pressure on Mark to accept to serve as the PDP national chairman.

According to him, “PDP stakeholders, elders, governors’ forum and BoT members are mounting pressure on David Mark to take over the mantle of leadership of the PDP to rescue the party, but he is yet to give his word as of today.”

While stakeholders are warming up for the NEC meeting, the Bauchi Governor said the PDP-GF, the BoT, the NWC, as well as the party’s National Caucus would meet to decide on the October 24 date.

Mohammed, who spoke with journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, yesterday, affirmed the resolution of three crises in the NWC. He said the party has also resolved not to preempt the outcome of various litigations in the party.

The governor, who was responding to a question on the October 24 NEC meeting, said: “The governors, the BoT, NWC, and the caucus will sit down and discuss the sanctity of the NEC.”

He charged the PDP leaders to close ranks and make sacrifices in the overall interest of the party and the country at large.