Governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party are to take position on the National Secretary and National Executive Committee of the party as they meet in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Sunday (today).

According to an insider who spoke to Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, the governors will also discuss matters relating the Rivers State emergency rule, and address key issues impacting both the country and the party.

The governors are meeting three weeks after the Supreme Court returned Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the party against their favoured Sunday Ude-Okoye.

On March 21, the apex court set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, delivered on December 20, 2024, which had affirmed Anyanwu’s removal as the National Secretary of the party.

The judgment left the PDP leadership and members in disarray, as both parties in the suit — Anyanwu and Udeh-Okoye — claimed victory. They issued separate statements declaring victory immediately after the verdict.

The NEC meeting of the party has also been postponed more than three times, a move that generated disagreements between the PDP governors, the National Working Committee and the Board of Trustees.

PDP has been grappling with internal conflicts both before and after the 2023 elections, resulting in growing instability and division within the party.

However, as part of continuous measures to reposition the party, the PDP governors are set to meet in Ibadan today.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, confirmed that the PDP Governors Forum’s meeting is scheduled to hold in Ibadan on Sunday to Monday.

Ologunagba disclosed in a statement that, “The PDP Governor’s Forum meeting scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State on Sunday, April 13 and Monday, April 14, 2025.”

However, the insider who is a senior member of the party, told Sunday PUNCH that the governors were expected to take a stance on the Supreme Court ruling regarding the National Secretary and also discuss the upcoming NEC meeting.

He said the governors will also address the crisis rocking the party in the South-South.

“The meeting is very crucial. The governors are expected to be frank with each other, discuss issues, and take proactive steps to preserve the PDP.

“Part of their agenda includes the Supreme Court judgment on the National Secretary, the upcoming National Executive Committee meeting, the South-South zonal leadership crisis, the state of emergency in Rivers State, the leadership crisis within the NWC, and other party matters that will be thoroughly discussed.

“They must decide on critical issues in that meeting to save the party, as many members are tired of the prolonged crises. Their resolutions and the actions that follow will play a significant role in preventing defections and determining the future of the PDP,” he said.

In related development, the former Senate Presidents David Mark and Bukola Saraki, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, along with former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and ally of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have joined forces with others to rescue the PDP from potential collapse due to its ongoing internal crisis.

A very credible source informed Sunday PUNCH that the PDP leaders convened in Abuja during the week and agreed on steps to reposition the party.

According to the source, who had knowledge of the meeting, they also discussed strategies to dissuade members—particularly governors—from leaving the party.

The source disclosed that other party leaders who attended the meeting included PDP BoT Secretary, Ahmed Makarfi, former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Waziri, and former Minister of Defence Lawal Batagarawa.

According to the source, the PDP governors were represented by their Chairman, Mohammed, and Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, at the strategic meeting.

He stated that they agreed on the importance of engaging with other party members to secure their support, reaching out to all dissatisfied factions, and restructuring the party’s leadership during the upcoming national convention.

Punchng