There are indications that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may opt for a caretaker committee to manage the affairs of the opposition party, in the aftermath of the Federal High Court judgment on the November 15 and 16 National Convention.

This is as PDP governors, members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and other stakeholders are making frantic efforts to resolve all contentious issues to enable the party to hold its national convention to elect a new National Working Committee (NWC) before December 8 when the tenure of the current NWC would elapse.

However, Daily Sun gathered that in the event that PDP is unable to hold a national convention before December 8, it would resort to a caretaker committee to manage its affairs pending the election of new NWC members.

Consequently, party sources said barring any last minute change, PDP leaders, including the governors and the BoT, would meet in Abuja this week, with a view to resolving all the issues and charting a way forward for the opposition party.

However, checks revealed that except the PDP is able to hold a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting between now and November 17 and transmit a fresh communication to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it would not be able to hold its convention before the expiration of the tenure of the current National Working Committee (NWC) on December 8.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, had in its judgment, in a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the PDP, Austin Nwachukwu, Nnanna Amah and George Turnah, said the party breached its rules and other relevant laws in preparation for the National Convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, next week.

Daily Sun reliably gathered that in the aftermath of the Federal High Court’s judgment, governors and other leaders of the party brainstormed on how to navigate the challenges to enable the PDP hold its convention before the expiration of the tenure of the current NWC.

However, party sources said the widening cracks in the NWC, in the aftermath of the court’s judgment, which resulted in suspension and counter suspension of party officials, at the weekend, may impede efforts to resolve the issues in the party.

The crisis in the party took a new twist on Saturday after the NWC, at a meeting presided over by the National Chairman, Umar Damagum, announced the suspension of the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature, for one month over alleged anti-party activities.

Also suspended were the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha. All the affected officials were referred to the National Disciplinary Committee.

Similarly, Anyanwu, after a meeting with another group of NWC members, announced the suspension of Damagum, as party chairman for one month, noting that PDP National Vice Chairman, North Central, Mohammed Abdulraham, has been appointed to serve as acting chairman. He also announced the suspension of Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba; Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshedo; National Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade and National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro.

The suspension and counter suspension escalated the crisis which has been rocking the party since after the 2023 general election over battle for supremacy.

The crisis, which started with controversy over whether or not the former National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, should be replaced by someone from the North Central and controversy over who is the rightful National Secretary of the PDP, has put the governors and loyalists of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on a warpath.

Things escalated after the 101 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, fixed the National Convention for November 15 and 16, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, with Wike’s camp and the governors battling for supremacy.

In the run-up to the convention, the bone of contention is the micro-zoning of the NWC seats among states in the South, as well as the conduct of congresses in some of the states.

Also, Anyanwu, had petitioned security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alleging that his signature in the correspondence to the electoral body on the National Convention was allegedly forged.

A member of PDP NEC, Diran Oduyemi told Daily Sun that stakeholders, including governors, were planning a meeting for Wednesday, with a view to resolving the problem in the party before the national convention.

Oduyemi said: “I am aware that the stakeholders are meeting on Wednesday, possibly, to call the two factions together to see how we can fashion a way forward or a way out of this crisis. If by Wednesday, they are able to reconcile among themselves or whatever may be the outcome of that coming, will tell us the way forward. But, it is not over until it is over.

“The judgment is just to alert us on what to do and I want to believe that the successful things can be done so that we can have a successful convention and elect new national working committee members that will lead the party forward.

“So, this is the first time suspension and counter suspension is happening in this NWC. The only joy we have is that whether they like it or not, their term will expire on December 8 and we look forward to electing a crop of people that will obey the Constitution of the party, obey the Constitution of Nigeria and understand the nitty gritty of putting the party together so that we can remain a formidable opposition.”

Similarly, a member of the PDP BoT, Chief Eddy Olafeso, confirmed to the Daily Sun that the board would be meeting on November 5, in Abuja to fashion a way forward for the party.

“We are meeting on Wednesday, November 5 at Wadata to fashion out a way forward. We may be down but we are not out and we are looking for ways through which these problems can be resolved once and for all,” Olafeso said.

He added: “It is so unfortunate that things happened this way. Some people are bent on destroying the party. But, many Nigerians believe in the PDP and its roles as a major opposition party, rather than a party divided and killed, so that APC can sustain its poor performance all over the country in all sectors of Nigerian life.”

Daily Sun gathered that while party leaders are considering constituting a caretaker committee to administer the party in the event that they are not able to hold a convention, the PDP would still have to notify INEC to monitor the meeting where the caretaker committee will be unveiled, in accordance with the regulations of the opposition party.

A reliable party source told our correspondent that unless the governors and the Wike’s camp is able to strike a balance, the PDP may not be able hold a convention or set up a caretaker committee. (The Sun)