PDP postpones NEC meeting again, reschedules for May 15
The Peoples Democratic Party has again postponed its National Executive Committee meeting, rescheduling it for May 15, 2025.
In a statement obtained by PUNCH Online on Sunday, the PDP’s National Secretary, Sunday Ude-Okoye, said the meeting, originally slated for March 13, was delayed due to pending zonal, state, local government, and ward congresses, as well as the need for further consultations.
This marks the fifth time the PDP has rescheduled its 99th NEC meeting, further deepening internal divisions within the party.
The crisis within the PDP has intensified since Umar Damagum assumed office as acting National Chairman following the court’s removal of Senator Iyorchia Ayu, with growing calls for his resignation.
During the 98th NEC meeting on April 18, 2024, party leaders failed to resolve several critical issues. As a result, the crisis has deepened, affecting state and zonal chapters and causing significant divisions within the National Working Committee.
The 98th NEC meeting had initially set August 15 for the 99th NEC meeting to address unresolved matters. However, the meeting was first postponed to October 24, 2024, then rescheduled for November 28, 2024, before being indefinitely delayed.
In response, the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, directed the NWC in December 2024 to ensure the NEC meeting was held by February 2025 at the latest.
On December 5, 2024, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, raised concerns that continued delays were eroding the trust and confidence of PDP members.
To ensure the meeting was held promptly, the PDP Governors’ Forum, during their meeting in Asaba, Delta State, on January 31, proposed March 13 for the NEC meeting.
However, in a new development, the party leadership announced that after consulting with all party organs, the 99th NEC meeting has, for the fifth time, been postponed to May 15.
The statement read, “Distinguished members of the National Executive Committee may recall that after due deliberation by party leaders, stakeholders, and relevant organs of the party, the NEC meeting was scheduled to be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2025.
“However, following emerging issues, including the need to conclude our pending zonal, state, local government, and ward congresses, as well as to allow for further consultations to ensure the smooth conduct of the meeting — especially concerning other proposed activities of our party — the NWC, after due consultation with leaders, stakeholders, and relevant organs of the party, including the Board of Trustees (BoT), the PDP Governors’ Forum, and the PDP National Assembly Caucus, hereby notifies distinguished NEC members that the 99th NEC meeting, earlier scheduled for Wednesday, March 13, 2025, has been unavoidably shifted to Thursday, May 15, 2025.
“All NEC members should please note the change of date and be guided accordingly.
“The NWC sincerely regrets any inconvenience this change of date may cause distinguished NEC members,” the statement said.
Abdulrahman Zakariyau
Abdulrahman has nearly ten years of experience reporting on political parties, elections, religion, civil society organizations, the Nigeria Governors Forum, and more