… Describe Edo election as a rape of democracy
…Say Ondo mandate bought
…Give Damagum, NWC 3 months for NEC
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has expressed concerns about the economic hardship on the nation by policies of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government with a call on President Bola Tinubu to review Nigeria’s macroeconomic and fiscal decisions.
Tinubu stopped the payment of fuel subsidy and floated the naira among other reforms which have led to the escalation of the cost of living.
However, the governors believe the readjustment of the policies will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.
This is among other resolutions of the forum during its meeting held in Jos, Plateau State.
“The forum empathize with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship hoisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government,” the chairman of the group who is also the Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed said after the meeting.
“The forum calls on the president to urgently review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies that will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.”
It stressed that PDP governors will continue to aggressively pursue policies and programmes that will reduce hardship and ensure progress and development in their states.
“The forum wishes to pledge that all PDP governors will continue to aggressively pursue policies and programmes that will reduce the hardship and ensure progress and development,” the governor said.
‘Rape of Democracy’
The just concluded governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states also attracted the attention of the forum which was described as a rape of democracy. They called on the judiciary to remain steadfast in election petition matters while the National Assembly should strengthen the electoral laws.
“The forum notes with concern the rape of democracy in the Edo governorship elections. It is clear to everyone with a conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate, when in fact, the majority of the lawful votes were won by PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo,” he said.
“Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents on the Ondo elections where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes.
“The forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people.”
Away from national issues, the governors also advocated that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party should call for a NEC meeting by the first week of February 2025.
This, the PDP governors said, is to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the party towards addressing the lingering leadership crisis in the main opposition ruling party.
Six governors from Bauchi, Zamfara, Taraba, Adamawa, Oyo, and the host Plateau attended the one-day meeting. Delta and Enugu states sent their deputy governors while the governors of Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Osun were absent.
PDP Crisis: Governors give Damagum, NWC 3 months for NEC
Governors elected on the platform of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rose from their meeting with a “strong advice” for the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) to call for the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party latest by February.
Since August, the NWC has continued to postpone the NEC expected to discuss some issues bedeviling the party and present a substantive National Chairman of the party who will take over from Damagum and complete the tenure of the suspended Iyorchia Ayu.
In April, the NEC was set for August 15, but was postponed to October 24, and then latter rescheduled to November 28 before it was indefinitely postponed.
In a communique read to journalists by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State who is also the chairman of the Forum, the governors 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.
“The Forum is constrained to accept the latest postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Party in empathy with our colleague, Governor Umo Eno whose late dear wife will be buried on the same day earlier scheduled for NEC.
“The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call NEC latest 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
