PDP COMMENCES 99TH NEC MEETING AMIDST TIGHT SECURITY

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has commenced its 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting amidst tight security at the party’s presidential campaign office in Abuja, popularly known as “Legacy House.” The meeting is attended by governors and other high-ranking party officials.

Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, said the meeting will discuss three important issues and that those behind the party’s internal crisis will be weeded out. “We have postponed this NEC several times for many reasons. Even now, this would have been postponed but we insisted that it must hold,” Damagum said.

The PDP is planning to hold three NEC meetings before its convention. Damagum emphasized that the party has mechanisms to solve its problems and that those responsible for the crisis will be held accountable. “People have been waiting to see if the problem that is self-inflicted and engineered internally will be settled. But we will weed them out,” he added.

Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, expressed the party’s determination to hold on to its mandate. “There is no intimidation that we are not going through, but we are resolute and will not abandon our mandate,” Mohammed said.

Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro described the recent mass defections from the party as a temporary setback. “The defections will make us stronger. It’s a temporary setback. The APC wants to bring us down,” Moro said.

Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, was optimistic that the crisis in the PDP is a passing phase. “We are receiving the stones because PDP has good fruits. We are going to come out strong. The PDP is a training ground for other politicians in Nigeria. We need more of selflessness in our party and less of selfishness,” Chinda said.

The meeting is attended by several high-profile party officials, including governors, former governors, and former ministers. The party is expected to address its internal crisis and chart a way forward for its convention.