By Daniel Ikot
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday held its landmark 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, emerging with a strong message of unity and renewal, as party leaders shelved internal rifts and pledged to work together ahead of the next general elections.
Former Senate President and Chairman of the PDP National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who addressed the press after the meeting, described the outcome as a major victory for both the party and Nigerian democracy.
“There was no victor and no vanquished. The winner today is the PDP. Another winner is Nigerian democracy because without a vibrant opposition, democracy dies,” Saraki stated.
The meeting, held amid rising speculation of a major fallout within the party, instead became a turning point. Party leaders, according to Saraki, chose peace and progress over further confrontation, agreeing to forgive past grievances and recommit to rebuilding trust.
“The spirit of give and take defined our frank discussions. We all resolved to forget the past, rebuild what was broken, and give peace a chance,” he said.
Saraki, who was appointed to lead reconciliation efforts by the PDP Governors’ Forum in May, commended party members and leaders who compromised on contentious issues to preserve the party’s future.
He said the show of maturity and sacrifice had disproved narratives that the PDP was in disarray or heading towards collapse.
“We have disappointed the pessimists and proved that those of us who remained in PDP are here to build, not destroy,” he declared.
Looking ahead, Saraki confirmed that the next NEC meeting is scheduled for July 23, 2025, while preparations for a hitch-free national convention are already underway. He urged all stakeholders to sustain the momentum and remain united.
“This is just the beginning. There’s still a lot of work to be done. But today’s meeting shows that progress is possible when we act selflessly,” he said.
The NEC meeting was attended by key party stakeholders from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT, signaling a renewed commitment to reposition the PDP as a strong and credible alternative in the country’s political landscape.
