In order to make amends with its disgruntled members before its National Executive Committee meeting, the PDP has established a committee led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
This was revealed at the conclusion of a Sunday evening meeting at the Abuja residence of Bala Mohammed, the governor of Bauchi State and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was also present during the meeting.
He did not, however, address reporters. Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) were among the State lead representatives who attended the conference.
Others included Liyel Imoke, Achike Udenwa of Imo, Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, and previous governors of Cross River.
The meeting was also attended by Ahmed Markafi, a former chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Umar Damagun, the PDP Acting National Chairman, and a few other members of the party’s National Working Committee.
The State lead representative of Bauchi told reporters that the meeting was called in advance of the party’s planned NEC, which has been set for the end of May.
In order to address some internal issues and set the stage for a peaceful NEC meeting and a national convention later this year, he said, the previous governors were invited in order to draw on their experiences.
The State lead representative of Bauchi state said that the recent PDP member defection will actually strengthen them when asked about the situation.
However, he said that the party was planning to retake several of the states in where its governors were located.
The defection of Sheriff Oborevwori, the governor of Delta State, and his cabinet to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised worries.
Internal issues have plagued the opposition party since the national elections in 2023.
The dispute between a former Rivers State lead representative and Sim Fubara, his successor, made matters worse
The crisis has not been resolved despite multiple attempts at mediation by the party’s leadership, including the PDP Governors’ Forum, the National Working Committee, the Board of Trustees, and the National Executive Committee.
Oborevwori, a former Delta State lead representative, Ifeanyi Okowa, and other state leaders joined the APC on April 23.
After meeting with President Bola Tinubu, three Kebbi lawmakers—Senator Adamu Aliero of Kebbi Central, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi of Kebbi North, and Senator Garba Maidoki of Kebbi South—joined the ruling party at the National Assembly.
The development was interpreted by many opposition leaders as a scheme to establish a one-party state in the nation.
