Governors from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have convened in Jos, Plateau State, for an important meeting on Saturday, as the party prepares for its upcoming national convention in Abuja next Thursday. This meeting comes at a critical time, amid an ongoing leadership crisis that has deeply affected the party’s internal dynamics.
While the official agenda of the meeting has not been made public, party insiders suggest that the primary goal is to strategize and consolidate the governors’ positions ahead of the leadership elections at the convention. The dispute within the PDP, particularly over the position of the national chairman, has become increasingly contentious in recent months, with factions within the party vying for control.
One of the key issues at the heart of the meeting is the selection of a new national chairman. Following the suspension of the former chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, by his local ward executive committee, the party has been embroiled in a battle over leadership succession. As the PDP prepares for its national convention, the focus is now on how to resolve the ongoing conflict and choose a new leader who can guide the party forward.
Two major factions within the PDP are at odds over the future of the party’s leadership. One faction, led by former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, is advocating for the removal of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, while another faction, which includes the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is pushing for Damagum to remain in the role until a convention in 2025.
With the national convention just days away, the Jos meeting has drawn significant attention from party loyalists and political observers alike. The discussions there are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the direction of the party in the years ahead. As the PDP seeks to overcome its leadership challenges and maintain its relevance in Nigerian politics, the outcome of this gathering could have a profound impact on the party’s future strategy and unity.
A source quoted by BusinessDay in Jos stated, “All eyes are on the PDP governors in Jos, as their ability to reach a consensus and resolve the leadership dispute could determine the party’s political future and its capacity to mount a credible challenge in the next general elections.”