The camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are in a joyous mood.

This was sequel to the endorsement of the Amb. Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC), by the party’s second highest decision making body- the National Executive Committee (NEC) at its 98th meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

The camp of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had moved to have Damagum return to his position as Deputy National Chairman (North) to let the North Central produce a substantive National Chairman to complete the truncated tenure of former Chairman, Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu.

It was gathered that the Atiku camp have returned to the drawing board to restrategise.

Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, while fielding questions from newsmen after the NEC meeting, expressed delight that contrary to expectations of the party’s enemies, the meeting was held in s peaceful atmosphere.

He said, “ You can see there was no dissension and rancour. It was planned that the party will have an implosion. PDP is more than that, we have given beyond all these.

“This party is a united party that is guided by experience and constitutionality. There were a lot of permutations and mischievous thinking outside there.

“But we looked at all the issues and we worked along our guidelines and constitution. There is no problem or dissension and problem among members.

“On the issue of a new chairman from North Central, the PDPGF Chairman said, “In the next two months we will see a lot of activities.

“Leadership is a responsibility. We said in September we would have come out from our congresses.

“We will look at the issue of leadership and look at the issue of our constitution where it will be. And we will do it with no rancour.”

Also speaking shortly after the NEC meeting, Damagum told reporters that the position he occupies is not a matter of life and death for him.

He said, “This is not a matter of life and death. I am still an elected member of this NEC. Even If I revert to deputy national chairman I’m still a member of NWC. The issue of surviving or not does not emerge.”

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, who read the communique after the NEC meeting.

END.