Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has returned to Nigeria in preparation for the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Atiku, who had been out of the country for several weeks, arrived in the early hours of Tuesday. The NEC meeting, scheduled for April 18, is considered a crucial event for the party.
The NEC is the second most influential decision-making body of the PDP, following the national convention. According to the party’s constitution, the NEC is supposed to convene every quarter.
Atiku, being the de facto leader of the party and the presidential candidate in the last elections, is expected to play a significant role in the lead-up to the NEC meeting.
This meeting holds particular importance as there have been growing concerns about the party’s management and allegations of external control.
In addition, the North Central zone has called for the acting national chairman, Ambassador Illiya Damagum, to step down and allow the emergence of a substantive national chairman from the region.
The position was originally zoned to the North Central in 2021, and the appointment of Damagum, who is from the North East, was a temporary measure following a court order.
Some governors and party chieftains have openly opposed Atiku as the PDP’s presidential candidate and have expressed their support for President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The upcoming NEC meeting is expected to shape the future direction of the PDP and address the concerns raised by party members.
As the party’s de facto leader, Atiku’s involvement in the lead-up to the meeting will be closely watched.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
