PDP NEC Meeting Today: Governors, Atiku, Wike Gauge Strength

• PDP’s NEC meeting today sparks uncertainty and tension as stakeholders position for control ahead of 2027 elections
• Notable figures like Fintiri, Eno, Muhammed, Diri, Oborevwori, and Obaseki attend, with speculation over governors’ intentions and party’s future

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to convene its crucial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting today, sparking uncertainty and tension regarding its potential outcomes and implications for the party’s future.

The air is thick with anticipation as critical stakeholders vie for party control, positioning themselves strategically for the 2027 general elections.

Under the party’s constitution, the NEC comprises over 100 members, including the national chairman, president, vice president, BoT chairman and secretary, Senate principal officers, House of Representatives principal officers, state governors, NWC members, state chairmen, ex-officio members, and former national officials who are still members.

The lineup includes notable figures such as governors Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, Umo Eno, Bala Muhammed, Douye Diri, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Godwin Obaseki.

Speculation abounds regarding the intentions of certain governors, particularly those in their second term, who are allegedly strategizing to assert control over the party’s direction leading up to 2027.

Amidst divisions and clashes between the Atiku and Wike factions, some governors are reportedly seeking an independent path to steer the party forward, frustrated by internal strife.

However, sceptics argue that these governors may not be driven solely by altruistic motives but rather by aspirations to position themselves or their allies for the party’s presidential candidacy in 2027, which could challenge the dominance of figures like Atiku or the FCT minister.

Observers predict that Atiku is likely to maintain his bid for the 2027 presidential elections. Securing key positions for his loyalists within the NWC could bolster his influence until the party’s convention in 2025.

Meanwhile, Wike, despite his perceived alignment with the ruling APC, maintains his membership in the PDP. He leverages his control over the opposition party to potentially negotiate with the APC ahead of the 2027 elections. His grip on the current NWC, believed to be composed of his loyalists, underscores his determination to retain influence within the party.