PDP governors meet as internal crisis escalates

• Tinubu returns as Adamu engages APC state chairs to ease tensions

As the internal crisis in the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), persists, the governors elected on its platform will meet today in Abuja, for an emergency meeting on the state of the party and the nation.

An expanded meeting of leaders and stakeholders, held last month at its national secretariat, failed to resolve the pre- and post-election crisis plaguing the party. At this meeting, the party warned its members against blame games over the outcome of the 2023 general election.

Acting National President Umar Damagum confirmed that the leaders had earlier met with stakeholders to resolve the lingering crisis, adding that today's meeting was part of the reconciliation move.

The meeting is convened by the Chairman of the DPP Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State. All 13 party governors are expected to attend the meeting, which is to be held at Akwa Ibom Governor's Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

A statement from the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, C.I.D. Maduabum said the meeting will also discuss the state of the nation, especially recent developments in the country, politically, socially and economically.

“The meeting will deliberate on the state of the Forum, the party and the role of the governors in stabilizing the PDP and the nation. In addition, the new leadership of the Forum could probably unveil its unity and progressive program during meeting,” Maduabum added.

This is the first meeting of the Forum since Mohammed became its president and Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State was elected vice-president in June.

MEANWHILE, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed the meeting of its National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) to Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. It was then that the forum of the presidents of the APC of the States gave their full support to the national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu.

The talks were supposed to take place between yesterday and today. APC National Secretary Iyiola Omisore explained that the postponement was necessitated by regional and sub-regional timelines and President Bola Tinubu's commitments as the new chair of the Economic Community of East African States. West (ECOWAS).

This is just as President Tinubu returned to Abuja last night after a two-day official visit to Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, where he took part in the activities of the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS. President Tinubu arrived at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at around 6:30 p.m. on board Boeing 737 NAF 001.

Apparently to assuage growing discontent within the party, Adamu yesterday engaged the APC state presidents to brief them on his handling. Speaking at the opening session of the talks, which took place days after meeting the governors, Adamu also sought President Tinubu's political patronage for party stakeholders.

While he urged party chairpersons to always draw the attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) to crises in their states or at the national level, Adamu said the discussion was important as chairpersons are those who "carry the weight". ” in their respective states.

At a meeting with the governors last week, Adamu had stirred up the wasp's nest by disassociating the NWC from the appointment of principal officers in both houses of the National Assembly. His refusal to also provide an audited report on the party's finances over the past year had caused resentment within the North West Company.

Furthermore, there has been speculation that some party stakeholders, particularly in the South West, have compiled a list of Adamu's "sins" which they hope to use to garner support for the president. for his dismissal.

It emerged yesterday that APC governors will also meet today to deliberate on the situation within the party ahead of the postponed National Caucus and NEC meetings.

Cross River State APC Chapter President Alphonsus Ogar blamed the idea that the NEC meeting was moved due to the crisis within the party. Ogar, speaking on behalf of the APC Presidents Forum, reaffirmed the Forum's confidence in the NWC led by Adamu.

He said, "There's no such thing if you've followed Mr. President's route, he's not currently in the country and he should go on another trip. That's why NWC amply briefed us and that's what necessitated the postponement Also, there is only one APC, and we came back in solidarity to say we strongly support our National President and the NWC."

As to whether they have helped with appointments to government boards and agencies, he said, "It's a complete rumour, because whatever you may have heard about...