PDP Governors’ Forum
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, led by Governor Bala A. Mohammed of Bauchi State, convened an enlarged meeting at the Bauchi State Governors’ Lodge in Asokoro on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

During the consultative meeting, key resolutions were made concerning the party’s strategy and unity ahead of the upcoming Ondo gubernatorial elections scheduled for November 16, 2024.

Notably, the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, originally set for October 24, has been rescheduled to November 28 to better prepare the party for a robust challenge against the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo.

The forum emphasized the importance of unity within the party, urging members to avoid divisive rhetoric that could weaken their collective efforts. This call for solidarity aims to position the PDP as a formidable opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

The meeting saw participation from various party organs, including the Board of Trustees, National Working Committee, National Assembly Leadership, and the Forum of Former Governors.

Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed signed off on the resolutions, reaffirming the PDP’s commitment to presenting a unified front in the upcoming electoral battle.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has distributed the 55,859 permanent voter cards ahead of next month’s governorship election in Ondo State.

National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun said in a statement yesterday that the collection of the PVC will not be shifted to local government offices of the commission.

The statement reads: “For five days (17-21 October 17 to 21, 2024), the commission made the permanent voter cards (PVCs) from the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Ondo State available for collection in all the 203 wards across the state.

“The commission is pleased to announce that at the end of the five days, 55,859 cards were personally collected by new registrants and applicants for transfer and replacement of lost or damaged cards as provided by law. This figure represents 62.2% of the 89,777 cards available for collection.

“This is the highest percentage of PVCs collected in five days in Ondo State since the Commission introduced the CVR in 2015. A detailed breakdown of the collection by local government areas has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information.

“Meanwhile, the collection will resume in our 18 local government offices in Ondo State from tomorrow (today), Wednesday, October 23 to Tuesday, October 29, 2024, from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm daily (including the weekend). Detailed information on the locations of our local government offices in Ondo State is already available on our website.

“We appeal to the remaining voters to pick up their PVCs from our local government offices. The commission reiterates its policy that no cards will be collected by proxy.”

Contrary to reports, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State did not file any suit seeking to compel the convening of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) to decide the fate of the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, PDP Governors’ Forum disclosed.

PDP Governors’ Forum which distanced itself from a legal action purportedly instituted at the Federal High Court of Nigeria holden at Gusau Judicial Division.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the Director General of the forum admonished that Mohammed, who is the chairman of the forum, has nothing to do with the suit either by himself or proxy.

It therefore urged the party supporters and Nigerians in general to disregard the insinuation.

The statement reads: “the attention of the PDP Governors’ Forum, PDPGF under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, and all the member Governors of the Forum, has been drawn to an online publication, to the effect that the Bauchi Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum filed a suit at the Federal High Court of Nigeria holden at Gusau Judicial Division seeking an ex parte order that would compel the convening of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

“This is to emphatically state that the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State does not in any way, either by proxy or himself, have anything to do with the said suit.

“For emphasis, our teeming supporters and all Nigerians are urged to ignore the false claim that the Chairman of the Forum or any of its members instigated any legal proceedings in reference to the above.

“Finally, we wish to state that the publication is dubious, malicious and intended to smear the character of Governor Bala Mohammed.”

A member of the PDP, Imam Awal, thought to be loyal to Governor Mohammed, was reported to have

dragged the party to court ahead of the scheduled October 24 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

His motion filed before a Federal High Court, Gusau, Zamfara State is seeking to nullify all actions taken by the Acting Chairman, Iliya Damagum.

The PDP member has approached a Federal High Court in Gusau under Justice Salim Ibrahim to help facilitate an ex-parte order.

The plaintiff is also asking the Court to determine whether the NEC is in contradiction of the party’s constitution by not appointing a substantive National Chairman from the North-Central zone after the removal of the Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, who is from the zone.