The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said the controversy surrounding the leadership of the party at this time should weigh on the collective conscience of all members.
Chairman of the BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, said this in his opening remarks at the beginning of the board’s meeting, in Abuja, on Thursday.
He decried a situation where leaders ignore constitutional provisions and embark on endless litigations to stall the party’s progress.
Wabara said, “I must address a matter that weighs heavily on our collective conscience, the leadership of the party as it stands.
“Recalling the events that led to the ousting of the former Chairman of the Party in person of H.E. Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the current Acting Chairman has spent over a year in office whereas as the usual practice of the party, the region from whence the national officer hails from should have produced a viable candidate to complete the tenure of the former national officer.
“Furthermore, the contentious issue surrounding the office of the National Secretary has regrettably sown seeds of discord within our party.
“The ambiguity surrounding this position has led to confusion and internal strife, hindering our collective efforts to pursue our noble objectives.
“The solutions to these two challenges are clearly imbibed in our party’s constitution but deliberate litigations have made the application of these constitutional solutions impossible.
“It is incumbent upon us to resolve this matter with utmost urgency, guided by transparency, fairness, and the best interests of our party and its members.
“As we stand on the cusp of a new era, marked by the impending expiration of the Ward and LGA executive structures of our party across several states, we are presented with a pivotal opportunity to reinvigorate and reposition our party for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
“The forthcoming congresses at various levels serve as a beacon of hope, offering us a platform to reaffirm our commitment to democratic ideals, grassroots participation, and inclusive governance.
“ Let us seize this moment to embrace change, foster unity, and chart a course towards a brighter and more prosperous future for our party and our nation.”
The former Senate president urged party leaders attending the meeting to approach deliberations with a spirit of fellowship, mutual respect, and unwavering dedication to the ideals and principles that “bind us together as members of the great People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”
He added that, “Together, we have the power to surmount any obstacle, overcome any challenge, and realize our collective vision of a stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive party ready to take overpower at the center in 2027.”
He earlier expressed gratitude to the party and its members for electing him as the substantive Chairman and Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi as Secretary at the 76th BoT meeting of Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
Wabara said, “I deeply appreciate the confidence and trust you reposed in us as well as the unalloyed support we continue to receive from you in the handling of the affairs of this very important organ of the Party.
“As you are already aware, today’s meeting is in preparation for the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of our Party which comes up later in the day.
“I stand before you today with a profound sense of duty and responsibility as we convene for the 77th meeting of our esteemed Board of Trustees.
“This gathering presents an invaluable opportunity for us to reflect on the state of our party, the challenges we face, and the imperative steps needed to propel us forward on the path of progress and unity.”
According to him, members of the BoT as leaders, feel the pulse of Nigerians and particularly members of the PDP in their demand and quest for direction at this critical time in the life of the Party the PDP and the nation.
He further said, “Nigerians are currently passing through a perilous time and their earnest expectation is for us as a Party to put our house in order and effectively lead the charge to rescue our nation from the stranglehold of the All-Progressives Congress (APC).
“We must therefore go into this meeting with the determination and resolve to urgently come up with practical solutions to the challenges facing our Party at this time.”
In his remarks, the party’s Ag. National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, said, “You all are aware that there are consultations and interactions with all the organs of this party at various time. We have off season elections and up coming congresses.
We have been up and doing despite the challenges that have reared its head one way or the other. We have two elections coming up in Edo and Ondo.
“We are hopeful that from the recent primary we are going to hold very soon in Ondo, I want to tell you that the future of that election is very bright for us.
“We have done very well to the extent that we are able to say that in that election, if we put our heads together, we shall come out victorious.”
The meeting is the 77th meeting of the BoT since the body came into existence. Those at the meeting include: Sen. Bala Mohammed, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi (BoT Secretary), former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, former National Secretary of the party, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Sen. Ben Obi and Sen. Jonah Jang.
Others include: former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, his former Niger State counterpart, Babangida Aliyu, Josephine Anenih, Sen. Biodun Olujimi,Sen. Osita Ngwu
and former Benue State Governor and PDP National Chairmanship aspirant, Gabriel Suswan among others.
