The 13 governors elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are meeting today in Enugu to discuss, among other things, strategies to reposition the party nationally and find a lasting solution to the political crisis in Rivers State.
The meeting is also expected to discuss other issues in the polity, including the recent judgement of the Supreme Court on local government autonomy, as well as the forthcoming congresses of the party and the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.
Among the governors who arrived on Tuesday for the meeting and were received by the host and governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, was the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed.
Others were Governors Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Umo Eno of Akwa-Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, and Ahmed Fintiri of Adamawa.
Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Senator Douye Diri, were being expected as of press time.
Sources said that while the official agenda of the meeting was not made known, the forthcoming party congresses, Edo and Ondo governorship elections, and the internal challenges facing the PDP and the state of the nation are expected to dominate deliberations.
While the meeting is expected to undertake the usual peer review and consideration of the state of the nation, there are hints that the crisis in Rivers State and the unresolved issue of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party could also take centre stage.
Sources said the forum’s chairman, Bala Mohammed, is spearheading a massive effort at rebuilding the party as a springboard for regaining the confidence of members across the country and, by extension, improving the electoral fortunes of the party and playing a more effective and constructive role as the nation’s foremost opposition.
Daily Trust also gathered that the extraordinary nature of the Enugu meeting was unravelled by the calibre of party stakeholders on Bala Mohammed’s flight.
Those that reportedly touched down with the Bauchi governor include: PDP BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro; PDP deputy chairman South West, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and PDP National Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Umaru Bature.
Others are former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Aliyu Babangida; former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki; Kaduna State PDP Chairman and Chairman of the Conference of PDP Chairmen, Hassan Hyat; and Bauchi State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Hamza Akuyam.
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