On Monday the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has summoned a crucial meeting of over 180 of its key members, including former national chairmen, former governors and former Senate Presidents, today in Abuja.
Incumbent governors were not invited to the meeting.
The meeting, described as a select committee of the National Working Committee (NWC), which is scheduled to hold at the party’s national secretary in Abuja “will deliberate on crucial issues of our Party,” the national organizing secretary of PDP, Hon. Umar M. Bature said.
Some of the key members invited for the meeting include the PDP presidential candidate in the last election, Atiku Abubakar; vice presidential candidate in last election, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa; former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman and former Senate President, Sen Adolphus Wabara.
Others are former Senate Presidents, David Mark and Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Maj. Gen. David Jemibwon; Alh Adamu Maina Waziri; Prof Jerry Gana; Prince Uche Secondus; Sen Ahmed Makarfi; Alh Shuaibu Oyedokun; Sen Stella Omu; Hajiya Maryam Inna Ciroma.
Also invited are Donald Duke; Senator Gabriel Suswam; Boni Haruna; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Liyel Imoke; Olusegun Mimiko; Sule Lamido, among others.
While the agenda of the meeting was not divulged by the party leadership, we learnt that the meeting was called to reflect on the future of the party in light of its poor state in the last eight years.
The party has remained split between camps loyal to Atiku and Wike, a fallout of the last presidential election which also manifested in the recent National Assembly leadership election.
A top member of the party who pleaded anonymity, said as much as he might not be certain as to the exact purpose of the meeting, “It is clear to everyone that all is not well with the party and a deep and sincere conversation has to begin if it has to survive.”
The source who noted that the party remains the major opposition platform, noted that it was however critical for party leaders to act fast if they intend to retain their place in the minds of Nigerians, he said.
“Without a doubt there is serious work to be done. It won’t be easy,” the source said.
Today’s meeting is the third major gathering of party leaders since the general election which is being contested by the party’s presidential candidate.
PDP leaders had met at a retreat in Bauchi State and later in Abuja at an event to honour outgoing governors and former chairmen of the party’s governors forum. Wike was absent at both meetings which were attended by Atiku.
