Drama as Governor Adeleke Storms PDP NEC Meeting Hours After Endorsing Tinubu’s Re-Election

Drama as Governor Adeleke Storms PDP NEC Meeting Hours After Endorsing Tinubu’s Re-Election

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke made a dramatic appearance at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday — just hours after publicly endorsing President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

Governor Adeleke’s surprise arrival at the meeting, held at the PDP National Secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, came as the party announced critical decisions aimed at reviving its fortunes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Adeleke’s earlier endorsement of Tinubu, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, had sparked outrage among PDP loyalists, who questioned his loyalty and commitment to the opposition’s objectives.

Despite the tension, party leaders chose to focus on broader unity and internal restructuring. The NEC resolved to hold the PDP’s Elective National Convention from November 15 to 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, with the goal of repositioning the party and rallying support nationwide.

In his address, Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, praised the ongoing reconciliation within the party and dismissed recent defections as a temporary lapse in judgment by impatient members.

“Some persons have recently learned the hard way that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush,” Damagum stated, referring to those who left the PDP to join what he described as a “failed political coalition.” He added that many defectors had since returned, acknowledging the party’s resilience and national appeal.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, echoed Damagum’s sentiment, urging discipline and unity while leaving the door open for returnees.

“We sympathise with those who became impatient and left, but certainly, they will come to understand,” he said. “We are keeping the door open for them to return, within a reasonable timeframe.”

In a veiled reference to Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu, Mohammed warned that acts of indiscipline would no longer be tolerated. “Indiscipline is the root of the problems we’ve faced in the past. We must move beyond it,” he declared.

Former Senate President and Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Adolphus Wabara, emphasised the need for credible leadership at the upcoming convention, asserting that it would determine the PDP’s chances in 2027.

“Although many doubted this NEC would hold, it is now a constitutionally recognised event whose outcome will shape the political terrain,” Wabara said.

The NEC also approved the full timetable for the convention and directed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be notified in compliance with the Electoral Act. Committees for both the convention and the zoning arrangements were also constituted to ensure transparency.

Former Kaduna State Governor and BoT Secretary, Ahmed Makarfi, urged members to be cautious in their public statements, warning against personal opinions being presented as party positions. “The success of this convention will define the political landscape in this country,” he said.

While Governor Adeleke did not speak publicly at the meeting, his presence loomed large over the discussions, with many delegates privately expressing concern over the optics and implications of his endorsement of the APC incumbent.

As the PDP looks to rebuild and unify ahead of 2027, Thursday’s NEC meeting marked a crucial turning point — one that underlines both the party’s internal challenges and its determination to reclaim relevance on the national stage.

The next NEC meeting has been scheduled for Monday, August 25, 2025.