The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Caucus meeting on Monday ended inconclusively, with the Governors’ Forum, Board of Trustees (BoT) leadership, and a peace committee led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki scheduled to reconvene Tuesday to determine the next steps for the postponed National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
After nearly three hours of discussions in Abuja, PDP acting National Chairman Umar Damagum told journalists that the talks would resume Tuesday at 10 a.m. “This meeting is going to continue. We just set up a small committee that would give us a report and tomorrow morning, we’ll continue,” he said. When asked if the NEC meeting would hold as planned, Damagum replied, “When you come tomorrow, we will answer this question after our meeting.”
Notably absent from Monday’s caucus were key PDP figures such as former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo, former Senate President David Mark, and ex-House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. The meeting was intended to pave the way for the 99th NEC meeting, originally slated for May 27.
The PDP continues to wrestle with deep internal crises, including ongoing disputes in Rivers State, controversies over the South South and North Central Zonal Congresses, and disagreements about the party’s National Secretary position. These conflicts have intensified divisions and stalled critical party decisions.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, along with Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) and Ahmadu Fintiri (Taraba), have expressed discontent with decisions made by the National Working Committee (NWC) and the Governors’ Forum, which are perceived to sideline Wike’s political influence. The rift has spread across states and geopolitical zones, undermining party cohesion.
The NEC meeting has faced repeated postponements since April 2024, with the 98th meeting failing to resolve key disputes. Although the 99th NEC meeting was initially scheduled for August 15, 2024, it was postponed multiple times before being set for May 27, 2025. A seven-member committee led by Saraki was formed to resolve outstanding issues, but tensions persist.
On Sunday, Wike withdrew from all prior agreements intended to resolve the party’s crisis, vowing to continue his fight after his allies were not recognized. On Monday afternoon, the Federal Capital Territory Authority sealed several properties, including the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, over unpaid ground rent, forcing the BoT meeting to relocate from Wadata Plaza to the party’s Legacy House office in Maitama. However, the meeting did not hold.
The PDP faces one of its most challenging periods since its founding in 1998, with defections such as that of former vice presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa and Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the ruling APC weakening the party’s position ahead of the 2027 general election.
The party’s internal strife has disrupted operations nationwide, with state chapters and zonal structures in disarray, particularly in the South-South region. The National Working Committee remains divided over the National Secretary role, and the Board of Trustees is split, further complicating efforts to restore unity.
