Barring any last-minute changes, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will today convene its 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, where the fate of key members accused of anti-party activities — including Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and former Benue State governor Samuel Ortom — could be decided, Daily Trust reports.

According to the newspaper, the Tom Ikimi-led disciplinary committee has submitted its report to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), recommending sanctions against several members accused of working against the PDP during the last general elections.

High on the agenda is the party’s forthcoming national convention and the report of its zoning committee. The 101st NEC, held in August, had fixed the convention for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, to elect new national officers. While most stakeholders back the Ibadan convention, Wike has opposed it, claiming his camp was not consulted and insisting on recognition of a South-South congress that produced Dan Orbih as zonal chairman — a result the NWC rejected.

Daily Trust also reports that acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, Board of Trustees Chairman Adolphus Wabara, and governors elected on the party’s platform met in Zamfara over the weekend to weigh options regarding Wike and other erring members.

PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, confirmed to Daily Trust that preparations for the NEC meeting were complete, assuring that it would be “peaceful, devoid of rancour and outrage.”

“It is going to be a very successful outing. NEC members have already been arriving. The venue is guaranteed, and the NWC is in session. The outcome will be communicated later in the day after the meeting,” he said, adding that the meeting would review progress since the last NEC, particularly the work of the Convention Planning Committee.

On the contentious issues of zoning, Abdullahi recalled that the party had earlier agreed to rotate the presidential ticket to the South while retaining the national chairmanship in the North, though micro-zoning between the North-Central and North-West is yet to be concluded.

Daily Trust further quoted a member of the NWC, who asked not to be named, as saying Wike’s case — along with others indicted by the disciplinary committee — would be discussed, though he could not guarantee that sanctions would be imposed today.

“What powers does Wike have? He will go to court? He should go. The truth of the matter is that no reasonable court, not even the Supreme Court, can overturn its own judgment. It has been said that these are internal affairs of the party, and that’s what we are doing… the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party next to the convention. So, we are going to have our way,” the source was quoted as saying.

Another NWC member, previously considered an ally of Wike, told Daily Trust that many former supporters had since distanced themselves from him, accusing the FCT Minister of “undermining the party’s values” and “casting aspersions on its leadership.”