Atiku says that only God can bestow authority, as the PDP faces a crisis.

Besides God Almighty, no human being can bestow authority, according to former vice president Atiku Abubakar.

Amidst the continuing drama surrounding Thursday’s 98th Peoples Democratic Party National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja, Atiku made his statement shortly after.

A WhatsApp group chat with some of the 2023 PDP presidential standard-bearer’s supporters across the country on Friday contained his views.

As per Debo Ologunagba, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, the party’s rebuilding of its Disciplinary and Reconciliation Committees was authorised on Thursday as part of its intra-party resolutions aimed at ensuring the party’s stability.

Emmanuel Udom, a former governor of Akwa-Ibom State, was appointed to lead the party’s disciplinary committee, while Bukola Saraki, a former president of the Senate, is still at the helm of the reconciliation committee. These appointments were among the major decisions made at the NEC meeting.

Only God can bestow authority, Atiku informed his WhatsApp backers following the NEC meeting.

His followers had already suggested that some members of his party had betrayed him, prompting him to respond.

“There is God,” proclaimed the former vice president, who had run for president of Nigeria six times but lost each time. God, and no one else, bestows authority.

“This is extremely true, sir, and this same God will answer your heart wants and ours too,” responded one of his fan on the social network group.

We are one big happy family, and when that day comes, we will all be here to rejoice.

Nothing we do will be in vain; eventually, we will see a better day. Together, we shall walk and strive to see the night. It will be us who triumph. Sir, I hope all is okay with you.

As for the allegations of anti-party activities levelled against former Rivers State governor and current Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Taofeek Arapaja, the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South), and other members of the disbanded G5 governors within the PDP, there have been increasing demands for their suspension.

Senator Dino Melaye, a former PDP candidate for governor of Kogi State, and other high-ranking party members had earlier claimed that the party’s NEC would impose severe sanctions on Thursday against any high-ranking party member accused of engaging in anti-party activities, in the days leading up to the two meetings.

Nevertheless, the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) chose not to address the purported anti-party matters during Thursday’s meeting and instead appointed Umar Damagum, the party’s former Vice Chairman (North), to serve as acting national chairman until the next NEC meeting.

“I don’t believe that is associated with the NEC’s work,” he stated. Our organisation is structured with various committees, such as the disciplinary and reconciliation committees. Therefore, we have built-in systems to handle situations like that. Then there’s the fact that they’ve never faced any kind of accusation, charge, or presentation before the disciplinary committee. Then I don’t think NEC should be the one to do that.

Someone should notify the disciplinary committee if they are accusing them of anti-party crimes. Yeah, that’s all. Things like that are beyond the purview of the NEC, but there are many processes and methods that must occur.

The situation was saved by governors elected on the Peoples Democratic Party’s platform, which allowed acting National Chairman Umar Damagum to survive an attempt to remove him.

For the previous two weeks, party officials have been debating whether Damagum should be replaced or kept in his position. This discussion was pivotal leading up to Thursday’s PDP 98 National Executive Committee meeting.

After PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu was suspended by the court in March of last year, Damagum, who had previously served as PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), became the party’s acting National Chairman.

After Ayu’s ward executives in Igyorov ward, Gboko Local Government Area, Benue State, voted to remove him from office, PDP member Terhide Utaan petitioned the court for a new election. The court eventually ruled in his favour.

The PDP’s National Working Committee and National Caucus vocalised their unwavering support for Damagum’s continuation in his acting capacity from Wednesday into the early hours of Thursday.

Despite the fact that the 98th NEC conference, which was attended by 353 accredited members, was widely expected to be the decision-making body, it was decided to delay the selection process for Ayu’s successor, including Damagum, for the North-Central area, until August 15.

The governors were instrumental in finding a solution, according to a NEC member who, because they are not authorised to talk publicly, chooses to remain anonymous. This person informed me of this on Saturday.

At the PDP Governors’ Forum meeting in Asokoro, Abuja, at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s lodge, the fate of Damagum was determined, according to the trustworthy source.

“The PDP governors were instrumental in saving the day and ensuring Damagum’s position,” he stated. In the middle of the party’s stress, the forum members realised that letting the NEC decide Damagum’s destiny could have long-term effects for the party.

According to their resolution, the North-Central area should not propose Ayu or Damagum’s replacement in the 98th NEC meeting if they value peace.

The goal instead was to make everyone happy, even when some were unhappy. They also suggest looking at the Rivers State PDP Caretaker Committee list again to make sure everyone’s interests are considered. In an effort to appease North Central, they nominated Emmanuel Agbo, a former Deputy National Secretary, to the position of Director General of the party’s Governors Forum and asked that Damagum remain in his interim role until August 15.

Dr. Eddy Olafeso, another member of the NEC, stressed that the decision was not made to please anyone.

The decision to prolong Damagum’s term until August 15 was taken, he said, because it would be foolish to consider succession plans less than two days after Ayu resigned.