The polity desires a robust and effective opposition, but no political party is playing that role. The voices of three of the presidential candidates who contested against President Tinubu have been louder than their political parties. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Mr. Adewole Adebayo of the SDP have offered more strident opposition and alternate viewpoints on Nigeria’s unhealthy economy than the political parties.

The PDP, the second-largest political party in the country and a former ruling party for sixteen years was expected to champion alternative viewpoints to those of the ruling party. But the party is overburdened by life-threatening crises and gasping for breath. Therefore, it has been pooh-poohed and labelled unserious. It has different factions or tendencies but has yet to be factionalised. The umbrella is yet to be torn apart as it is the wish of some persons, including members of the party.

A meeting of the party’s governors’s forum was held at the weekend in Jos, Plateau State. But the gathering didn’t show the cohesion and strength of the party hitherto associated with it. The meeting was also attended by key members of the National Working Committee including its Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Ilya Damagun, and National Secretary, Senator Anyanwu. Curiously, all the South-South Governors were not in attendance. The reasons were not explained it is believed that the Gov of Akwa Ibom, Pastor Umo Eno is still mourning the loss of his wife. The forum acknowledged that it was constrained to accept the latest postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party in empathy with their colleague Governor Eno Bassey, whose wife would be buried on the same day earlier scheduled for NEC.

Both Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and Rt. Hon Sheriff Obrevwori of Delta State were not in attendance. The Delta and Enugu state governors were represented by their deputies, Monday Onyeme and Ifeanyi Ossai, respectively.

The forum acknowledged the division in the party and called for unity. Indeed, part of the reason for shifting the meeting to February 2025 was to address the threat to its continuous existence: “The period between November and February is to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities within the period under review to address issues of leadership and litigations confronting the party”

The issue of unity permeated their discussions in the meeting. Some analysts have suggested that it would have been appropriate to have invited some elders and Board of Trustees members to the meeting. The roots of the party’s problem are diverse, but it would have been nice to have former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the FCT Minister invited to the meeting. It is believed that the current problem of the party revolves around the duo.

In a communique at the end of their meeting, Governor Bala Mohammed said the Forum notes the concerns of Nigerians, PDP founding fathers, elders, and members of our great Party of seeming divisions within the ranks and files. “The Forum wishes to state categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion of this great Party that Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance”.

Still, on the theme of unity, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State said at the Governors’ Forum in Jos, we reaffirmed our commitment to unity, addressing Nigerians’ concerns, and alleviating economic hardships. Together, we stand for democracy, fairness, and progress.

Expectations were high that the meeting would produce far-reaching decisions as was attested to in the host Governor Mustang’s speech: “While this is primarily a meeting of Governors, it was truly heartening to see so many party leaders and stakeholders from different states here with us, all united in support as we work together to ensure the stability of our party and its role in providing hope for the people of Nigeria.

Five Governors, two deputy Governors, members of the National Working Committee, NWC, PDP-GF, BOT, NASS Forum, Former Governors Forum, Former Ministers’ Forum, and other leaders of the party were in attendance. They include Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Governor Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Governor Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and the Deputy Governors of Bayelsa, Enugu, and Plateau States. The PDP Acting National Chairman, Illiya Damagum, as well as the party’s key figures, including former Governors Jonah David Jang, Ahmed Makarfi, and Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, for their support.

I am deeply grateful to all the Governors and party faithful who traveled from all parts of the country to join us here in “The Home of Peace and Tourism.” This gathering is an important step in charting a course for the PDP and restoring it as the party of choice for the people of Nigeria.

While this is primarily a meeting of Governors, it was truly heartening to see so many party leaders and stakeholders from different states here with us, all united in support as we work together to ensure the stability of our party and its role in providing hope for the people of Nigeria. I thank Senator Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, for his continued leadership and support. The unity within our party remains strong, and despite any challenges, the PDP is an unbreakable force for hope and good governance in Nigeria.

Hardship: PDP Govs Urge Tinubu to Review Economic Policies
State governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have called on President Bola Tinubu to review his administration’s economic policies to address current hardship in the land. The governors made the call in a communique issued in Jos, Plateau State, after their two-day meeting, which ended on Saturday.

The Communique signed by Senator Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State Governor and chairman of the Governor’s Forum, read, “The Forum empathizes with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government.

“The Forum calls on the President to urgently review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies that will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians. The Forum wishes to pledge that all PDP Governors will continue to aggressively pursue policies and programs that will reduce the hardship and ensure progress and development.

“The Forum notes the concerns of Nigerians, PDP founding fathers, elders, and members of our great Party of seeming divisions within the ranks and files. The Forum wishes to state categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion of this great Party that Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance.

“The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call NEC by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the Party. The period between November and February is to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities within the period under review to address issues of leadership and litigations confronting the Party.

Would the Party convene and take crucial decisions to move it forward in February 2025? Or would it generate another excuse to shift the propose date? Only time will tell. However, the public perception about the party is that it unsettled and wobbling.