The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed its 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting amid growing concerns over whether the party’s top decision-making body can take decisive action against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The meeting had been scheduled for tomorrow at the PDP’s National Secretariat in Abuja. However, it was postponed to allow the reconciliation committee led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki to carry out its assignment.

A notice tagged “Postponement of the 99th NEC Meeting,” signed by PDP’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, stated that a new date would be scheduled.

The notice reads: “The above subject refers. This is to formally inform leaders and members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great party that the proposed NEC meeting, earlier announced to take place on May 27, 2025, has been postponed. The postponement is to allow the Bukola Saraki Reconciliation Committee to complete its assignment of resolving some internal conflicts necessary for a peaceful NEC meeting.

“Accordingly, a new date will be formally announced in accordance with the PDP Constitution 2017 as amended and the Electoral Act, 2022. Therefore, any notice of NEC meeting or publication signed by the Deputy National Secretary in the guise of Acting National Secretary is illegal, unauthorised, and should be disregarded. All inconveniences resulting from this change of date are regretted. Please accept the assurances of my esteemed regards.”

This came as the acting National Chairman, Ilya Damagum, expressed dismay at the pussyfooting by the PDP disciplinary committee, stressing that the committee’s lethargic attitude towards petitions, particularly those against Wike’s anti-party activities, has contributed to the ongoing confusion in the party.

Damagum, who made the assertions while fielding questions on the BBC Hausa programme Gane man Hanya, disclosed that the disciplinary committee received at least 40 petitions regarding indiscipline.

He regretted that the committee acted on only one petition, remarking that such sluggishness contributed to the PDP’s current vulnerability. He stressed, “There were strong grounds to remove Wike and others from the party.”

He noted that at a point, the disciplinary committee was advised that the actions of the five troublemakers merited expulsion, regretting that nothing happened until after the 2023 elections were concluded.

Even as he lamented that the committee devoted time only to the petition concerning the national secretary, the acting national chairman said the party could have avoided its current predicament.

He bemoaned, “Now, I am in charge of the party, they are pressuring me to expel him after he and his group succeeded in setting the party back through the things they did.”

Similarly, former PDP National Auditor Ray Nnaji said, “Discipline must be enforced. Nyesom Wike is derailing the party. If he doesn’t want to remain, he should leave. His conduct is damaging the PDP—this same party made him who he is, including his current position in the APC-led government. The party must act using its constitution to restore order.”

Nnaji also condemned threats by South-East leaders over the secretary position, stressing, “It shouldn’t be by command, but dialogue. Regional leaders have not helped the situation. Even the Enugu governor has failed to improve what he met. Instead of threats, they should engage in dialogue—the party belongs to all,” he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, a party chieftain, James Uzosike, declared the urgency of enforcing discipline, adding, “The problem is leadership’s inability to act decisively on critical issues.”

Chief Olabode George, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, called on the NEC to take a firm stand on disciplinary issues.

“Today’s meeting should not be about sentiments. Anyone who is not loyal to the party should be shown the way out. Voting for an APC presidential candidate while claiming to be in the PDP is double standards,” he said.

HOWEVER, still threatening fire and brimstone, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has not only pulled out of all agreements reached to ensure a peaceful resolution of the party’s crisis but also declared war on two state governors.

Citing serious breaches of agreements reached by stakeholders led by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Wike vowed to “fight on until justice is attained.”

While blaming the Oyo State Governor as the architect of the party’s present problems, the FCT Minister said that he told Governor Makinde that “non-adherence to agreements reached was the bane of the party, and that he was the chief culprit of this anomaly.