By Joel Echekwonye
The much anticipated NEC meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came and went yesterday with quite significant fallouts and profound implications for the fortunes of the party in the short and long terms.
The NEC meeting was the first since after the 2023 general elections and its build-up was attended by intense intrigues and high tensions as the dominant power blocs within the party wrestled for control of its national leadership.
On one hand is the bloc led by FCT Minister and former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, while on the other is the one led by former Vice President of Nigeria and PDP Presidential Candidate at the 2023 elections, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku.
The target for both blocs is the control of the National Working Committee of the party through the office of the National Chairman currently being occupied in Acting capacity by Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun.
The Wike camp rooted for Damagun to continue in office while Atiku and his people mounted a spirited challenge to capture the office and install former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam as National Chairman.
After a series of meetings, at the level of the North Central region, which is laying claim to the position as belonging to it by right, and also at the level of state governors elected on the party’s platform, it was evident the Wike camp was going to carry the day at the NEC meeting.
And that was how it turned out, with NEC resolving that Ambassador Damagun continues in office until the next meeting of the body which is the highest in the hierarchy of the party.
National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Debo Ologunagba, in a statement to the press highlighted that, among other things, the apex decision making body of the party had decided that the Acting National Chairman continuing in office best serves its quest for peace, reconciliation and harmony.
In reality, the decision of NEC represents a defeat for Atiku as it was evident he had done everything possible within his powers to have Damagun removed and replaced with Suswam.
The decision highlights in a very clear sense the working synergy among the National Working Committee, state governors of the party and the Wike-led G-5 group now made up of 4 former governors and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
The struggle goes all the way to the heart of the fight for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket which Atiku is known to have already started making a bid for, while the NWC/Governors/G-5 coalition is known to be opposed to such ambition of Atiku.
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The thinking behind the opposition to Atiku’s 2027 presidential ambition stems from the shoddy manner he had handled his rift with the G-5 Governors during the campaigns for the 2023 polls which caused the party a victory many believe it had a good chance of winning.
The coalition against Atiku also is believed to argue that his ambition to be president so closely on the heels of a fellow Fulani man, Muhammadu Buhari, having exited the presidency only so recently, is not only inordinate but self seeking.
They also contend that his ambitions at this point in time is against the larger interests of the party as a viable alternative for Nigerians even as it goes against the spirit of equity, fairness and national harmony.
For those who desire to have PDP stand as an alternative platform for Nigerians against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) keeping Atiku’s presidential ambition at bay appears to be best for the opposition party as horse-tradings look set to gather momentum towards 2027.
Echekwony writes from Abuja/ 19 – 4 – 2024.
