The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday stepped down discussions on the contentious national secretary position of the party till June 30.

The party’s acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, disclosed this while reading the communique issued after the party’s 99th NEC meeting in Abuja.

Mr Damagum said NEC received the resolution of the South-East General Executive with regards to the national secretary position.

He said the meeting, however, agreed that the issue be considered and deliberated upon in the next NEC meeting slated for June 30.

The PDP South-East Zonal Executive Committee had, on May 21, submitted its resolution nominating former national youth leader Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the party’s national secretary to replace Samuel Anyanwu.

PDP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis over the rightful occupier of the office of the national secretary, as Messrs Anyanwu and Udey-Okoye continue to lay claim to the office.

Mr Damagum said NEC also received and ratified the composition of the committee on the zoning of national offices ahead of the party’s national convention.

Members of the zoning committee, according to him, are Governors Douye Diri of Bayelsa (chairman), Dauda Lawal of Zamfara (vice-chairman) and Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau (secretary).

Mr Damagum also named members of the National Convention Committee, including Governors Ahmadu Fintiri (chairman), Ademola Adeleke (vice-chairman), and Peter Mbah (secretary).

He said NEC thoroughly examined the state of affairs in the nation and within the party.

Mr Damagum expressed concern over security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping and attacks on communities in various parts of the country.

He said NEC also lamented the economic hardship and poverty levels occasioned by the hike in fuel prices, increase in electricity tariffs and multiple taxes.

Mr Damagum called on the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to take practical steps toward addressing the insecurity and economic situation.

The acting national chairman restated the party’s belief in democracy, the rule of law and the supremacy of the will of the people, as expressed through their free and unhindered democratic participation in multi-party politics and governance.

He noted that the successful convening of the NEC meeting was a clear demonstration of the party’s unity and focus despite the challenges.

Mr Damagum reassured Nigerians that the PDP remained strong, resilient, united, and determined, now more than ever before, in leading the charge to rescue Nigeria.

He said that about three more NEC meetings would still be held before the party’s national convention to enable it to sort out most of the contentious issues.

“People are outside there waiting for this opportunity to see whether we are able to surmount all these problems that are self-inflicted and somehow engineered from some quarters, but with the help of God, we’ll continue to overcome.

“They will put obstacles, and we will surmount them until when we show them the way out,” he said.

(NAN)