Saraki to Chair PDP Reconciliation Committee Ahead of NEC Meeting.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formed a committee led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki to reconcile disgruntled members ahead of the National Executive Council meeting.

Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, made the announcement at the end of a meeting at the Abuja lodge on Sunday night.

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, also attended the conference. He, however, did not speak with journalists.

Some of the governors that attended the meeting included Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Peter Mbah (Enugu).

Others were former governors of Cross River, Liyel Imoke, Achike Udenwa of Imo, Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa.

The meeting was attended by the PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun, a previous Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ahmed Markafi, and several other members of the party’s National Working Committee.

Briefing journalists, the Bauchi governor stated that the meeting was called ahead of the party’s scheduled NEC, which is set for the end of May.

According to him, the previous governors were invited to share their experiences in order to address certain internal issues and lay the groundwork for a rancorous NEC conference and a national convention later this year.

When asked about the recent defection of PDP members, the Bauchi state governor stated that the development will strengthen the party.

However, he indicated that the party was developing tactics to retake control of some of the states where its governors lived.

Concerns have been raised regarding the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his administration to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Since the 2023 general elections, the opposing party has faced internal conflicts.

 

The situation escalated when a previous Rivers State governor and his successor, Sim Fubara, clashed.

Several attempts by the party’s leadership, including the National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee, and PDP Governors’ Forum, to mediate the conflict have been unsuccessful.

 

On April 23, Oborevwori, Delta’s former governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, and other state officials joined the APC.

Three Kebbi parliamentarians, Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South), joined the ruling party after meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

Many opposition leaders interpreted the move as an attempt to transform the country into a one-party state.