Usama OLAGUNJUThe leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) has been resolved by the governors on the platform of the party.The crisis had created factions in the NWC.
The governors affirmed Amb. Umar Damagum as the Acting National Chairman, pending when other organs of the party will sit and resolve issues in the party.
The governors, who are not too sure whether the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for October 24 will still hold, has, however, told the leadership of the party to return to the status quo.
Addressing newsmen on Tuesday at the Abuja airport before leaving for Ondo State for PDP governorship campaign, the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State govenror, Bala Mohammed, said that suspension of some members of the NWC has been lifted.
The governor, who said that there’s no faction in PDP, urged members to bury the hatchets and make sacrifice for the party.
He said: “I want to inform you on behalf of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Chairman of the Senate Caucus, and the representative of the BoT, we had a family meeting, and we wish to reaffirm that there is no faction in the PDP.
“All the suspensions you heard about have been resolved by the governors, the NWC, the caucus of the National Assembly, and the BoT. There is no faction; everything has reverted to the status quo under acting Chairman Damagum, pending the time the governors and other organs of the party will sit down and resolve all the issues.“
There is no party that does not have problems. Some of them are legal, and we do not want to preempt the outcome of legal procedures.
“So whatever speculations and perceptions have gone out are wrong. Both parties have agreed that, in the interest of the party and Nigeria, we should return to the status quo before the suspension and counter-suspension.“
These suspensions have been lifted; there are no more suspensions. That is the resolution of the PDP Governors’ Forum.“To members of the party, they should remember that it is the PDP we have, and it is the most experienced party that has produced government and good governance since 1999.
We should make sacrifices and come together. Yes, we may have ill feelings here and there, but we should bury them.“Our personal feelings should not be allowed to create perceptions that seem to divide us.”
Speaking on the NEC meeting, Governor Mohammed said, “The governors, BoT, and NWC will sit down and discuss the sacrosanctity of the October 24 NEC meeting.”
Also speaking, the Acting National Chairman of the party, Amb. Damagum, said, “There is no crisis in the party as far as I am concerned, but some people want to take advantage of the situation.“I urge the press not to escalate things even where there is no crisis.“
As far as I am concerned, the governors are our leaders and critical organs of this party, and when they speak, we must look at it holistically and also abide by it.
”Explaining the suspension of the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, Damagum said, “
They are still in the party.”The governors, in their communique after their virtual meeting on Monday and Tuesday, said, “Based on the decision of the Forum and in meeting and consultations with the Board of Trustees, NWC and other organs of the party, we hereby resolve as follows:“
That the organs of the party were careful in addressing issues particularly those over which there were pending legal disputations.
“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 vow to serve and grow the party from strength to strength, consolidating on the dreams of our founding fathers.”
The virtual meeting, according to the communique, was attended by 11 governors.
PDP Demands Removal Of REC Ahead Ondo Guber PollMeanwhile, the PDP on Tuesday expressed lack of confidence in the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, Oluwatoyin Babalola.
The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, therefore called on the national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Yakubu Mahmoud, to remove the commissioner ahead of the governorship election slated for November 16 in the state.
Makinde made the call while addressing a crowd of party supporters in Akure during the official flag-off ceremony of the 2024 Ondo State PDP governorship election campaign.
The Oyo State governor, who is also the PDP South-West leader, said the removal of the REC would prevent what happened during the last gubernatorial election in Edo State and ensure a free, fair and credible election in Ondo.
He warned that the opposition party would not fold its arms and allow a repeat of the drama that characterised the Edo election in Ondo.
Makinde asked Mahmoud to deploy another REC that will be fair and allow a level playing field in order to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
He said: “This message is for the INEC National Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmoud. You must remove the REC in Ondo State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola.“
The last governorship election in Edo State was a fraud and we don’t want that in Ondo State. The current REC is from Ondo State.
We don’t want her to conduct this election. We will not condone injustice.
“What they did in Edo will not succeed in Ondo. We will protest until she is removed. Bring another REC that will be fair, that will allow a level playing field. We as PDP aren’t afraid of any contest. Remove her or else, we will continue to protest.”
Also, the PDP governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, asked for the deployment of Babalola from the state, saying the REC would not be fair if allowed to conduct the poll.
“Ondo REC must be redeployed. She was born here. Her parents live here. She can never be fair in this election. We don’t want her in Ondo State. Babalola must leave,” Ajayi said.
Agboola promised to diligently implement his seven-key agenda for the state which include infrastructure, agriculture and health development.
The Chairman, Ondo National Campaign Council, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, described the PDP candidate, Ajayi, as a tested hand.
The PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagun, said: “We don’t want what happened in Edo State in Ondo State.“
We want free, fair and credible elections in Ondo State. Our governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, is a well tested candidate that can deliver dividends of democracy for the good people of Ondo State.”
