The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has floated another committee to reconcile its aggrieved members across the country as gale of defections and crisis in states chapters have sent jitters to the spine of the opposition party.
The six-man committee is headed by a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Other members of the committee are; former governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo; former House minority leader, Mulikat Akande; former Cross River state governor, Liyel Imoke; former Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema and former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, announced the birth of the reconciliation panel via his verified Twitter account on Monday night.
Daily Trust gathered from impeccable sources that the setting up of the reconciliation panel was sequel to the discontent in the party and especially the skirmishes in its states chapters.
Pundits say the emergence of the Saraki-led panel is not unconnected with the party’s strategy to nip in the bud the current waves of defections trailing it.
The PDP which lost federal power in 2015, after administering the affairs of the country for 16 years, made efforts to re-clinch the apex seat in the 2019 general election but failed.
Sequel to this, the party is reviewing its strategies and adopting new modalities aimed at reclaiming power in 2023.
The PDP had constituted various committees to x-ray its very existence and provide recommendations for the party to have a better life.
One of such committees was the Governor Bala Muhammed-led 2019 Post Election Review Committee which was set up to unravel what led to the party’s defeat at the 2019 general poll and provide key recommendations that would guide the party in its operations ahead of the 2023 poll.
Inside sources hinted to our correspondent yesterday that the Saraki-led panel would have more work to do in states under the control of the APC, on grounds that it was more engulfed in crisis in those states.
Defections
The Saraki-led panel has the herculean task of reconciling all aggrieved party members nationwide and nipping the gale of defections in the bud.
Presently, there is uneasy calm in the PDP as some of its bigwigs have dumped the party and pitched tent with the ruling APC.
A second term governor elected on the platform of the PDP in Ebonyi State, David Umahi, had last Tuesday, ditched the opposition party saying, “I offer this movement as a protest to the injustice being done to the South-East by the PDP since 1999 till date.”
Similarly, Senator Ishaku Abbo (Adamawa North) on Tuesday this week dumped the party, saying he left in order to secure the APC’s governorship ticket and dislodge the PDP government in the state.
Earlier, the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee had received a former Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Yakubu Dogara; former PDP National Chairman, Senator Barnabas Gemade; Dr. Alex Otti; Chief Jimoh Ibrahim; former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Danladi Kifasi; Sen. Isa Hamma Misau; Alhaji Salisu Takai and others.
The Saraki-led panel is expected to halt the gale of defections which pundits say will spell doom for the party in 2023, if not reserved.
However, the APC has vowed to cause shocking defections from the PDP, saying political bigwigs in the PDP were leaving because of alleged poor handling of the party’s affairs.
The APC specifically claimed that the party was unable to run its national secretariat, pay staff salaries while its leadership is grappling with what it termed “a crisis of confidence.”
The APC in a statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, said “it will be unfair to expect its progressive-minded members to remain in the PDP which has failed woefully as the supposed ‘main’ opposition party in Nigeria.”
The ruling party said it was disheartening that the PDP which is the leading opposition party in the country was allegedly pushing Nigeria into a largely one-party state.
States chapters
The Saraki-led panel will also have to wade into the crises ravaging some states chapters of the party.
Some states chapters of the PDP are entangled in crisis over who controls the party’s structures.
Some states chapters have been polarised with parallel executive running them to the detriment of the party and its chances of winning future elections.
The Nasarawa State chapter of the PDP is also neck deep in crisis as it is run by two factions led by a former governorship candidate of the party, David Ombugadu and a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Solomon Ewuga.
The crisis attained its climax when Ewuga, a former Minister of Justice, Musa Abdullahi Elayo and a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo were suspended over alleged anti-party activities.
The PDP Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, later announced that their suspension was lifted.
But our correspondent reports that the crisis has persisted despite efforts by critical stakeholders to curtail it.
In Plateau, the Prince Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee (NWC) recently took over the affairs of the party in the state following unresolved issues that sparked crisis.
The NWC also constituted a committee to look into the leadership crisis while directing the party’s Chairman in the North Central Zone, Mr. Theophilus Dakashan, to oversee the activities of the party in the state pending the resolution of the crisis.
The Saraki-led panel also has the responsibility to end the crisis rocking the Cross River, Ogun, Niger and other states chapters of the party.
The targets
Some members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) confirmed to our correspondent yesterday that the party’s target was to reclaim the presidential seat and win 90 per cent of states in the next general election.
One of them said, “We can’t afford to lose the presidency in 2023. We also believe that if we put our house in order and work as a united team, we will also win a reasonable number of states.
“To achieve this, we deemed it fit to constitute a national reconciliation committee to thrash the issues generating tension and causing disunity among our members.
“So, I can assure members that this committee will deliver on its mandate because of the calibre of people therein.
“After delivering on their mandate, we shall reactivate our structures, strengthen our formations as one big, united and formidable family ahead of the next elections.
“We want our critical stakeholders to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship and commitment towards the success of the party,” he said.
The BoT Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, also told our correspondent that the party’s target is to have under its control, 90 per cent of states after the 2023 general election.
The PDP currently has 15 governors; the APC 20, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has one.
Senator Jibrin said it is possible for the PDP do achieve that feat if the elections are free, fair and credible.
He said the PDP’s administration, if voted again, would tackle the security situation in the country and address infrastructure deficit in the country.
“This is, therefore, a good sign that PDP is on its way to control over 90 per cent of the states in Nigeria if INEC continues to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
“In order to allow us capture power, PDP is in full reconciliation in all the states to make the party intact with no unnecessary dismissals.
“Our door is always open to everyone to join the party and members to continue remaining in the party. It’s obvious that there is no party that will govern Nigeria very well, but the PDP. So, all Nigerians must follow the path of Edo State and must be fully ready for 2023,” he said.
