PDP BoT demands petrol price reversal, says Tinubu’s policies escalating hardship

The board of trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says asked President Bola Tinubu to review his economic policies and reverse the petrol price hike.

The PDP BoT’s position is contained in a communique issued on Thursday after its meeting in Abuja.

On Wednesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited increased the pump price in its retail stations in Lagos to N998 per litre and N1,003 per litre in Abuja.

The hike in price of the product has elicited criticism from Nigerians with the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) saying the decision will worsen inflation.

“The BoT expresses serious concerns over the worsening economic hardship, acute food crisis and general sense of misery, despondency, uncertainty and hopelessness in the country occasioned by the anti-people policies of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration,” the communique reads.

“The BoT demands that the APC administration immediately review its policies and take immediate steps to ensure the reduction in the price of fuel, make key investments towards food production, revamp our manufacturing sector to stimulate employment opportunities and mitigate the suffering of Nigerians.”

EDO ELECTION

The BoT faulted the conduct of the recent governorship election in Edo, alleging that the result was manipulated.

The BoT said the party will take every “legitimate step” to recover the mandate “freely given to our party by the people of Edo state”.

The members said Nigerians will resist any plan to rig the November 16, 2024 governorship election in Ondo state.

INTERNAL CRISIS

The BoT commended the reconciliation committee for working to resolve the disputes within the party.

It asked the committee to remain focused on the task of fostering peace and unity in the PDP, advising party members against resorting to “avoidable litigations”.

On the political crisis in Rivers, the BoT said efforts must be intensified to find lasting solutions to the issues.

“The NWC should urgently summon a meeting comprising of the NWC, PDP Governors’ Forum, Leadership of PDP National Assembly Caucus and BoT Special Committee to resolve the issues,” the communique added.

The PDP chieftains stressed on the need for all organs, leaders, stakeholders and members across the board to remain united and committed, saying the PDP is the “only beacon of hope for millions of Nigerians”.

The BoT said the national executive committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for October 24, will allow the party to address “pressing matters and strategize on the way forward”.

It advised Nigerians to work with the PDP in the quest to rescue the country from the “stranglehold” of the APC.