Months after a fierce internal battle, governors, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and other stakeholders who had opposed FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and his ally, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, have finally backed down.
PDP’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilyas Damagum, confirmed the development on Wednesday during a press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
“After due consultation and everything, we thought it’s a bitter pill and we have to swallow it,” Damagum admitted, signalling a reluctant but final acceptance of Anyanwu’s reinstatement.
He revealed that the decision followed a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, after which the party’s leadership had no choice but to return Anyanwu to his position.
Present at the briefing were key PDP figures including chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed; chairman of the PDP National Assembly Caucus, Senator Abba Moro; House Minority Leader, Honourable Kingsley Chinda; Chairman of the PDP Peace and Reconciliation Committee, Senator Bukola Saraki; former Bayelsa governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, and other members of the PDP National Working Committee.
Damagum further disclosed that in light of the new developments, the PDP would indefinitely postpone its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting originally slated for June 30, opting instead for an expanded leadership session.
Damagum added, “Gentlemen of the press, yesterday when we rose from a meeting with INEC, you demanded we tell you what we discussed; we couldn’t do that until we go back and meet with some of our stakeholders.
“We met with some of our Governors, the Governors Forum and members of the Board of Trustees and the PDP caucus of the National Assembly.
“Today, I convened a critical meeting of the PDP NWC, even though it was at short notice, and some of the members are not here, but we feel that you are waiting for us to brief you on what happened yesterday.
“We had an extensive meeting, and critical issues were discussed. We know where our problem is.
“INEC is our regulator, and they have told us their position as it is, as it affects the issue surrounding the National Secretary; we are all aware that the National Secretary is a signatory of this party; it is a critical position that he holds.
“As such, we have decided to abide by the advice they gave us, especially as we have a very, very important election before us, that is the FCT local government election and we are running out of time so, we have no option but to abide by the decision,” he said.
Explaining further, Damagum urged all stakeholders and party faithful to understand that although it was a difficult decision, it is a necessity.
“The survival of the party is more than all of us, more than everything that you feel that you know and yearn for, I want to use this opportunity to tell you that we will do the right thing and it is the decision of most members of this party led by the organs of the party.
“The leaders of the organs of the party will have an expanded caucus, so that we will discuss extensively the way forward to NEC; that would be on the 30th, and we will issue the notice as there is not going to be NEC, but an expanded caucus.
“INEC told us that they do not have any notice of a NEC meeting from us because I was the only person that signed, and we had not followed the guidelines; so, the expanded caucus meeting will take a decision for NEC as well as all critical issues brought before us and leading to our national convention.
“Now, Anyanwu will resume as the National Secretary; I think that’s the most important thing,” Damagum stated.
