Ahead of the 99th National Executive Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, the North Central leadership has started looking for a replacement for the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.

Additionally, the North Central caucus emphasised that the October 24 NEC meeting was crucial for the party?s future.

The PDP has faced significant internal unrest leading up to and following the 2023 general elections.

Party members have criticised Damagum for failing to implement effective reforms and have held him responsible for the party?s difficulties.

The situation worsened when the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, continued to publicly criticise Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the PDP Governors? Forum regarding the party?s structure.

As a result, the party?s reputation has suffered, and its influence has diminished due to this ongoing conflict.

Consequently, stakeholders from North Central are calling for Damagum?s replacement in accordance with Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution, which states that: ?Where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the Executive Committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from to serve out the tenure of the officer.?

A high-ranking member of the NEC from North Central, speaking anonymously, revealed that the zone had started looking for a replacement to be announced at the October 24 meeting.

The source Indicated that the North Central caucus recently met in Abuja and agreed that the NEC meeting was crucial for the PDP?s future, with the zone planning to present a single name for ratification at the 99th NEC meeting.

He stated, ?Yes, we met at Stratton Hotel in Abuja. The zone is going to pick from the people who are out there, including former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, party chieftain, Conrad Utaan, and others.

?As a matter of fact, we listened to Utaan and a few other aspirants during our last meeting, and we will meet others soon. We will meet again at the North Central Zonal Executive Committee meeting. The leader of the party in the zone, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, promised to consult some other stakeholders and convene a ZEC meeting that will come up with a name as the most acceptable and competent among the aspirants from the zone that will be presented at the October 25 NEC meeting.

?The Abuja North Central caucus meeting is to ensure that the October 24 NEC holds and nominations go forward. Contrary to how the NEC has been postponed in the past, now many leaders of the party are agitating that it is sacrosanct for the meeting to hold on the stipulated date.

?As for the North Central zone, many meetings will take place in the remaining days to enable the zone to make just one nomination to the NEC.?

Corroborating The PUNCH?s source, the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, warned against further postponement of the NEC.

Ologunagba, a NEC member from the North Central, strongly stated that the meeting would play a crucial role in determining Damagum?s successor.

He stated, ?Of course, the North Central Caucus met and we will still meet again. We agreed that the NWC-announced NEC date must stand. For what it?s worth, we should be able to sit down together and determine the future of the party.

?Largely, a lot depends on that NEC. I believe strongly that the party will make a decisive decision about Damagum?s replacement at the next NEC slated for October 24.

?Party stakeholders are working towards that date and are aware of the plot by Damagum?s group to postpone the meeting. We want to warn against postponement of the NEC meeting, because stakeholders will not take it lightly.?

Additionally, the National Chairman aspirant, Conrad Utaan, stated that the North Central Caucus interviewed him for two hours.

Utaan, who shared this during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, expressed hope that following ongoing consultations in the North Central Zone, a name would be submitted at the meeting on October 24.

He stated, ?I recently addressed the North Central Executive Committee of the party for two hours. My message resonated with them. I understand some people from Kogi are also running, and there is another person from Benue. So when the chips are down, the zonal leadership of the party will interpret its own formula for micro-zoning.

?Therefore, I do not expect that the North Central will bring up more than one name at the NEC on the 24th of October. As you are all aware, this is not a national convention. That is not what is required; if the North Central comes up with a name and presents it to the NEC on the 24th of October, a new chairman has emerged. Once the name is ratified, that?s the new chairman, substantive chairman of the PDP.

?The zonal leadership of the party is working to evaluate all aspirants and come up with a name before or during the NEC meeting.? (Text, excluding headline: The PUNCH)

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