PDP to hold NEC meeting on April 18 — first since Ayu’s suspension

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed April 18 for its national executive committee (NEC) meeting. 

The party will also hold the national caucus meeting on April 17, while the board of trustees (BoT) meeting will take place on April 18.

Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, announced the developments in a statement issued on Friday.

The NEC is the highest decision making organ of the PDP, comprising state governors, serving and former presidents, former vice-presidents, chairman and secretary of the BoT, principal officers of the national assembly, all state chairmen, members of the national working committee (NWC), former governors, and founding members, among others.

There have been calls for the PDP to convene a NEC meeting.

The last time the party held a NEC meeting was in September 2022, when Iyorchia Ayu was the national chairman of the party.

Ayu was suspended from office in March 2023, after the executive members of Igyorov ward, Gboko LGA of Benue, passed a vote of no confidence on him over alleged anti-party activities.

The party constitution states that a NEC meeting must be held once in three months.

Section 31 (4) of the PDP constitution states: “The National Executive Committee shall meet at least once in every quarter at the instance of the National Party Chairman or the request of two-thirds of its membership, who shall notify the Chairman at least seven days before the meeting; and an emergency meeting be summoned by the National Chairman having regard to all the circumstances of the agenda.”

Segun Sowunmi, a former governorship aspirant in Ogun state, had sued the Umar Damagun-led PDP for failing to convene a NEC meeting within the constitutionally stipulated period.

The suit has suffered multiple adjournments, with the federal high court in Abuja yet to deliver judgment.

TheCable understands that issues like the replacement of Ayu, and the off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo states, will be discussed at the NEC meeting.

A fortnight ago, Gabriel Suswam, former governor of Benue state, declared his intention to run for the office of the national chairman of the PDP.