After a year-long hiatus since its last gathering, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has finally scheduled its much-anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for April 18 this year. In preparation for this meeting, the party leadership has appointed executives for 20 states, local councils, and wards. These newly appointed executives will serve in their respective positions for three months.
The delay in convening the NEC meeting, which is statutorily required to be held quarterly, has caused internal tensions within the party. Former Benue State Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, criticized the party leadership for the prolonged delay, accusing it of being influenced by hidden forces. Additionally, PDP chieftain Segun Showunmi resorted to legal action against the party leadership for failing to convene the meeting within a year of its last occurrence.
Following pressure from PDP governors and other stakeholders, the National Working Committee (NWC) announced the date for the NEC meeting. The meeting will be preceded by a gathering of the Board of Trustees (BoT) on the same day. Furthermore, a National Caucus meeting is scheduled for April 17, 2024.
In conjunction with the NEC meeting announcement, the NWC appointed caretaker executives for several states, local government areas, and wards. These appointments were made in accordance with the party’s constitution, specifically Section 29 (2) (b). The caretaker committees will oversee the party’s affairs in their respective areas for a three-month period.
The states where these appointments were made include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The NWC clarified that no replacements should be made for vacancies in the caretaker committees due to death, defection, or resignation.
The NWC emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration among party leaders, stakeholders, and members to ensure the stability and success of the party at all levels.