PDP NWC meets Thursday on Atiku, Wike, Campaign

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The National Executive Council of the Peoples' Democratic Party will hold its meeting on Thursday, September 8, 2022.

A member of the party's NEC confirmed as much to Saturday PUNCH on Friday on condition of anonymity.

The NEC is expected to discuss the crisis involving PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

Citing unforeseen circumstances, the party had postponed its National Caucus and NEC meetings earlier scheduled for August 10-11, 2022.

However, unconfirmed reports attributed this development to the impeachment request of the party's national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

Governor de Rivers' camp had demanded Ayu's resignation as one of the conditions to resolve the post-presidential primary crisis rocking the opposition party.

The crisis ensued after Atiku defeated Wike in the party's presidential primary.

Although a panel recommended Wike as Atiku's running mate, the presidential candidate instead chose Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate, much to Governor Rivers' annoyance and his supporters.

Wike's supporters have argued that it is unfair that the party's chairman and his presidential standard bearer hail from the same region.

But the crisis within the party has deepened in recent days, with Ayu lashing out at Wike and his supporters for demanding his removal.

He described them as young people who did not know how the party was formed.

Wike, in his response, also ridiculed the party chairman, saying he would help him lose the 2023 ballot.

Asked if the NEC would deliberate on calls for Ayu's resignation, the NEC member said, "The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 8, 2022. We are not discussing any matters of resignation, we have passed this stage.''

When asked if the NEC would discuss Wike's romance with key All Progressives congressmen, the PDP leader said, "Wike's romance with other parties is not It's not a problem; he's always a party man. He's got candidates vying for Governor, Senate, House of Representatives, and other positions. What's he going to do with those people? He's not going anywhere.''

Another credible source told PUNCH on Saturday that "the meeting agenda is not disclosed to NEC members; it is a CEN tradition that the agenda be read to the members during the meeting. Therefore, the agenda is not revealed.''

Furthermore, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba said the media should wait for the outcome of the NEC meeting.

‘Wike, PDPs united’

Meanwhile, the party's national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, has said the current infighting will not affect the party's chances in the 2023 general election.

Ologunagba said this during a conversation with journalists in Abuja.

According to him, the misunderstanding will soon be resolved.

He said the party is working to unveil its national campaign council for the 2023 presidential election.

“The PDP is alive. We are active and working hard on our mission statement. We are working on our campaign board. In a few days it will be unveiled for people to see.

“Regardless of what we read in the newspapers, I can tell you that the PDP is firm and ready for the 2023 general elections. We tell our members and Nigerians that the PDP is here and the darkness goes away and the countdown has begun,” Ologunagba said.

He added that party leaders were determined to tackle Nigeria's challenges, including the economy, security and the strike by university professors.

"The key is this: all members of this party, leaders and stakeholders have agreed on one issue; that Nigeria is the main problem and that we must save the country.''