PDP Governors Convenes NEC Meeting To Decide Damagums Fate

Governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are set to convene on Saturday in Jos, Plateau State, where they will deliberate on the future of the party’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilyas Damagum, as the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting approaches on November 28.

The meeting, which will be chaired by Bauchi State Governor and leader of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed, is being called to address the ongoing leadership challenges within the party. The discussions are expected to focus on finding a resolution to the current division in the party, particularly regarding the position of Damagum.

There are two major factions among the governors. One group, led by Governor Bala Mohammed, supports Damagum’s leadership, while the other, aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, is pushing for his replacement. The Makinde faction favors Damagum’s tenure extending until December 2025, while the opposing camp is advocating for a leadership change before then.

The North Central zone, which had previously produced former National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, is still undecided on a suitable replacement for Damagum. Although Senator David Mark’s name has surfaced as a potential candidate, there are concerns regarding his health that may disqualify him from consideration.

Despite the internal party divisions, Damagum appears to have garnered substantial support, securing the backing of 29 out of the 37 state chairmen, in addition to the chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This considerable level of support could have a significant impact on the forthcoming NEC meeting, potentially swaying the final decision regarding his future.

In related developments, after a closed-door session on Wednesday with the Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC), Imo State PDP Chairman Austin Nwachukwu, who also serves as the Interim Chairman of the PDP Chairman’s Forum, provided insights to the media. Nwachukwu explained that the purpose of the meeting was to facilitate greater familiarity between party members and the NWC.

He noted that in the past few months, multiple state congresses had been held across various levels of the party, from the wards to local government areas, and it was crucial for the NWC to bring together party leaders in Abuja for coordination and relationship-building. Nwachukwu emphasized that the meeting was primarily aimed at fostering greater unity within the party as members prepare for the upcoming changes in leadership, particularly with several terms set to expire next year.