Nigeria’s leading political parties – the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have kicked off preparations for the 2027 electioneering with crucial National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings.
The PDP will, today, commence the process that will culminate in its 101st NEC meeting on Friday.
It was learned that the meeting, during which the date of its convention will be decided, will lead to the election of new national officers.
These will take the party through the primaries and the 2027 general election.
Between today and Friday, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) will meet to resolve outstanding issues before the NEC meeting on Friday.
The party has been hit by the defection of prominent chieftains to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) – the coalition platform.
A critical challenge for the opposition party is to resolve the crisis arising from the position of the National Secretary.
Although the party had asked Senator Samuel Anyanwu to continue in the position in accordance with a court verdict, some party leaders have continued to kick.
However, a party source said the acrimony would be laid to rest during the national convention when a new leadership would emerge.
APC to pick Ganduje’s successor
On its own, the APC caucus, which usually precedes the NEC meeting, will meet today to set the template for tomorrow’s NEC meeting.
Top on the agenda of the NEC will be the ratification of the National Chairman to replace the immediate past chairman, Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, who resigned voluntarily on June 27 on health grounds.
Following his exit, the Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Dalori, has been acting as chairman.
Standing committee members of the APC will be ratified at the meeting, it was learnt.
National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, who spoke on the preparations, said he would tender the annual report before the highest decision-making organ of the party.
Ganduje, who is from the Northwest, became chairman following the resignation of his predecessor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu from the North central, in August 2023.
The North central caucus has intensified the campaign for the selection of a new chairman from the zone.
But it is not clear whether the zone will get it because the Northwest is still angling to retain the position.
The NWC held its meeting on Monday, where the NEC meeting agenda was prepared and agreed upon.
Although the outcome of the NWC meeting, which lasted for two hours, was not made public, a source said the party would release the timetable for the congresses ahead of the National Convention.
Expected at the NEC meeting are President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, NWC members, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, his deputy Senator Jibrin Barau, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, his deputy Benjamin Kalu, APC governors, Speakers of APC-controlled Houses of Assembly and state chairmen.
A follow-up and an enlarged meeting of the NWC and Forum of State Chairmen convened by the acting national chairman took place at the party secretariat yesterday.
According to the source, the objective was to forge a synergy with the state chairmen on the timetable for the proposed congresses.
A similar meeting was held between the NWC and the Governors’ Forum at Asokoro, in Abuja.
An NWC member said: “We are prepared for the NEC meeting.
“Letters have been sent out to all the members of the committee, and the NWC has been meeting with other organs of the party in order to have a hitch-free meeting on Thursday.
“Mr. President and other leaders of the party and all NEC members have been invited, and the meeting will surely produce a substantive National Chairman that will replace Dr. Ganduje.”
Anxiety over PDP NEC meeting
There is anxiety over the PDP NEC meeting following the collapse of trust and persistent suspicion after the defection.
There is also disquiet over the announcement by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and key PDP leaders to work for the re-election of President Tinubu in 2027.
The governor explained that they took the decision “after weeks of consultations with stakeholders across the state — from traditional rulers and civil servants to market leaders and grassroots party members”.
On his X handle, Adeleke wrote: “I remain in the PDP, the party that gave me the platform to serve the good people of Osun.
“I have been unanimously endorsed by the Osun PDP for a second term in 2026.
“Our party in Osun has also endorsed President @officialABAT for re-election in 2027, recognising him as a proud son of our state.”
Before yesterday, the three PDP senators from the state pledged their total support for President Tinubu’s re-election.
A staunch member and four-time House of Representatives member, Oluwole Oke, defected to the APC.
Fears are also rife that more pro-Atiku Abubakar chieftains may dump the party for the ADC.
Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum will preside over the NEC meeting, which will be preceded by a pre-NEC meeting where contentious issues will be discussed.
Also, the PDP National Caucus is scheduled to hold tonight at the Bauchi State Governors’ Lodge in Asokoro.
The Nation
