Governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) concluded their meeting in Abuja, agreeing that the party’s contested National Chairmanship position would be decided by the National Executive Committee (NEC). Led by Bala Muhammed, the governors emphasized adherence to the party’s constitutional provisions and condemned attempts to factionalize the party. They affirmed the NEC’s authority in resolving internal issues and called for credible congresses in states where party officer tenures had ended.
Governors elected on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform emerged from their meeting in Abuja with the agreement that the party’s disputed National Chairmanship post will be decided by the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Bala Muhammed, Chairman of the forum and Governor of Bauchi State responded to journalists’ questions following the hours-long closed-door meeting. He stated that the party’s issues were being resolved.
He said, “We are looking forward to doing everything within the constitutional provision of the party. So we are not here to discuss about change of leadership.”
The governors also accused some people of plotting to factionalise the party and “take one faction to go and join a coalition,” claiming they would not tolerate it.
The Bauchi governor stated, “NEC will make choices on matters, not governors. I know governors generally occupy the leadership role, but we have an acting person heading the party, and NEC will determine if it is time to replace the gap after considering the legal consequences.
“Knowing that there are so many lingering litigations in court and of course we don’t want to disparage ourselves because we know that they are some marauders hiding somewhere trying to factionalize our party and take one faction to go and do a coalition, we are not going to allow that as governors.
“We are very responsible and we are very credible and we will make sure we resolve all the issues and unify the party for maximum efficiency and success in the next election.”
The governor further stated that, while the public is allowed to permutate and discuss, “NEC will decide on some of these problems.
“There are no contending forces, who are NEC, NEC is the PDP Governors Forum and other stakeholders, so we are just a portion of NEC, we cannot talk on behalf of NEC until we get there.”
Meanwhile, in a statement distributed to media following the meeting, the governors urged the Party’s National Working Committee to “set in motion the machinery to conduct credible congresses in all States where Party officer tenures have expired.”
“The meeting noted that there are no factions in the PDP and everybody is working together.”
