Daniel Otera
After over a year of postponements and internal party wrangling, the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) finally held on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, at the Legacy House in Maitama, Abuja.
It was the first such meeting since April 2024 and came amid intense political uncertainty within the main opposition party.
The Journal Nigeria gathered that party leaders, including state governors, senators, former presiding officers of the National Assembly, and members of the National Working Committee, converged at the NEC to address long-standing issues threatening the cohesion of the PDP.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting and read by the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, delivered a scathing criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of fostering an “irredeemably exploitative, anti-people” governance style.
The NEC expressed “serious concern” over the current state of the nation, describing it as melancholic. It condemned the “worsening insecurity”, including banditry, kidnappings, and terrorist attacks, which it attributed to what it termed Tinubu’s “apparent negligence” of constitutional responsibility.
The PDP also cited data-backed grievances including rising poverty levels, the collapse of small businesses, and a general decline in the productive sector. According to recent figures by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 63% of Nigerians are now multidimensionally poor, a reality the NEC linked to what it described as the “ill-advised and ill-implemented” economic policies of the APC government.
“Fuel price hikes, increased electricity tariffs, and multiple taxes have led to the closure of millions of businesses, mass unemployment and deepened social unrest,” the PDP NEC stated.
Beyond economic and security issues, the NEC also levelled accusations of “policy inconsistency, wholesale corruption, and massive treasury-looting” against the Tinubu-led administration. It claimed that these actions have not only reversed developmental gains but have also scared away both local and foreign investors.
The party warned of what it called “a sinister plot” by the APC to transform Nigeria into a one-party state. Citing alleged intimidation of opposition politicians and democratic institutions, the PDP claimed these tactics were driven by APC’s “mortal fear of inevitable defeat in 2027”.
Despite internal challenges, PDP leaders at the meeting projected a message of resilience. Chairman, Board of Trustees and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, described the party as Nigeria’s most credible political platform, urging reconciliation and collective purpose among stakeholders.
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed admitted the PDP had suffered from defections and internal coalitions but maintained that its core remained united. “We are resolute. Those who left will return. No amount of federal intimidation can deter us,” he said.
The NEC also ratified the composition of committees ahead of its national convention slated for 28–30 August 2025. The Zoning Committee will be chaired by Governor Douye Diri, with Governors Dauda Lawal and Caleb Mutfwang serving as Vice Chairman and Secretary respectively.
The Convention Committee is to be led by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, with Governors Ademola Adeleke and Peter Mbah as Vice Chairman and Secretary.
In a sign of unresolved internal disputes, the NEC deferred a decision on the South East Zonal Executive’s resolution concerning the position of National Secretary. The matter is expected to be revisited at the next NEC meeting scheduled for 30 June 2025.
