The 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reinstated Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary of the party.
PDP acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum who briefed journalists at the end the meeting, also disclosed that the party has scheduled to hold another NEC meeting on July 23.
“At that time we will be able to convene a proper NEC where myself and Senator Anyanwu will sign notice to fulfil regulatory need of INEC in convening meetings,” he said.
The PDP National Chairman stated that the party’s detractors had thought the meeting would be a rancorous, and “maybe the end of the party.
“The beauty of PDP (is that it is) the only party in this qcountry that knows the mechanism to solve its own problem rancour free.
“You can see all our governors have attended the meeting, all members of NWC, we are on the same page.”
He assured that there would be no longer counter press releases.
Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Senator Bala Mohamed, said PDP is a miracle party “that has the pedigree and the human capital to deliver Nigeria.
Mohammed who is also governor of Bauchi State, said PDP “have been engrossed in controversies and challenges, not created by us, but created for us, and we have been navigating, unlike the other parties, irrespective of the manifestations and the perceptions there.”
The governor stated that the news of people leaving the party is cosmetic, which he claimed, was created to diminish the PDP.
He denied that there were differences in the NWC, disclosing that party leaders met before the NEC meeting to resolve the differences in the committee.
Governor Mohammed assured that there will no longer be conflicting press statements, adding, “We are all on the same page, no excuse for coalition, no excuse to form any stakeholders meeting other than that of the NWC.
“We are solidly behind this NWC and governors, and we will continue to work as the conscience of the party and other organs of the party to make sure we succeed.”
The NEC meeting which was held hours after security operatives sealed off PDP National Secretariat and scuttled the Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, was attended by five PDP governors, National Assembly Caucus and BoT members.
However, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike and Anyanwu, were absent at the meeting.
The heavily security operatives comprising men of the Nigeria Police Force and National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), arrived as early as 8:30 am in about 10 trucks and cordoned off the roads leading to the secretariat.
They said they were there to maintain law and order, and were instructed not to allow any meeting at the party’s national secretariat.
A faction of the NWC led by the acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum had called for an expanded National Caucus, while another faction made up of 11 members led by Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeak Arapaja, insisted that the NEC meeting will go ahead as scheduled.
But after hours meeting by PDP governors at Bauchi State Lodge, party leaders reconvened at the National Secretariat, and decided to hold NEC meeting instead of the Expanded Caucus.
Damagum who admitted that “a lot of tensions and divisions” have been created in party, explained that the decision to hold NEC meeting was reached after consultations with other organs of the party and PDP governors.
He called on PDP members to stop de-marketing of the party.
Former PDP National Chairman Chief Olabode George, condemned the sealing of the party secretariat, and warned turned Nigeria into North Korea or 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,” he said.
George described the action of the operatives as “voice of Jacob and hand of Esau!”
