The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be on the brink of
resolving its lingering national leadership crisis, as it commences reconciliation talks in the South-West on Monday, October 10, 2016.
resolving its lingering national leadership crisis, as it commences reconciliation talks in the South-West on Monday, October 10, 2016.
The
purpose of the meeting is to among other issues, brainstorm on strategies to
make the party bounce back.
purpose of the meeting is to among other issues, brainstorm on strategies to
make the party bounce back.
This development is coming a few weeks after factional
acting national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff agreed to the peace moves
initiated by the National Chairman of the caretaker committee, Senator Ahmed
Makarfi.
acting national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff agreed to the peace moves
initiated by the National Chairman of the caretaker committee, Senator Ahmed
Makarfi.
Both Leaders had a few weeks ago met for several hours for
the first time in Abuja and resolved to pursue a united PDP.
the first time in Abuja and resolved to pursue a united PDP.
They agreed to
sheathe their swords, after which they both issued a joint statement, saying
that they had reached an agreement to set in motion a joint reconciliation
process.
sheathe their swords, after which they both issued a joint statement, saying
that they had reached an agreement to set in motion a joint reconciliation
process.
The two leaders resolved to end the crisis that had engulfed the party
following its National Convention which held in Port Harcourt,
following its National Convention which held in Port Harcourt,
Rivers State
this year and which resulted in the removal of Sheriff as the National
Chairman.
this year and which resulted in the removal of Sheriff as the National
Chairman.
The statement which was released after the meeting and
jointly signed by Makarfi and Sheriff, said: “It is time to heal the wounds,
and bring about a united, focused and constructive opposition party that can
bring sanity to our democratic process, bring relief to the teeming supporters
of our great party and to the benefit of our great country, Nigeria.”
jointly signed by Makarfi and Sheriff, said: “It is time to heal the wounds,
and bring about a united, focused and constructive opposition party that can
bring sanity to our democratic process, bring relief to the teeming supporters
of our great party and to the benefit of our great country, Nigeria.”
Crisis engulfed PDP last year, just a few months after
Sheriff emerged as the Acting National Chairman to the displeasure of many
stakeholders. A former national chairman of the party and a former governor of
Bauchi State, Adamu Mu’azu had resigned when PDP lost the 2015 presidential
election.
Sheriff emerged as the Acting National Chairman to the displeasure of many
stakeholders. A former national chairman of the party and a former governor of
Bauchi State, Adamu Mu’azu had resigned when PDP lost the 2015 presidential
election.
The party appointed Sheriff in an acting capacity to complete
Mu’azu’s tenure. He was removed early this year and a caretaker committee was
set up with Makarfi as its chairman.
Mu’azu’s tenure. He was removed early this year and a caretaker committee was
set up with Makarfi as its chairman.
An aggrieved Sheriff went to court, saying
that the party’s constitution had no provision for a caretaker committee, and
insisted that he remained the chairman.
that the party’s constitution had no provision for a caretaker committee, and
insisted that he remained the chairman.
Another pending issue which may also be discussed at the
Ibadan meeting is who emerges as the National Chairman.
Ibadan meeting is who emerges as the National Chairman.
Following the decision
of the national body to zone the position to the South-West; the issue of who
would be the consensus candidate further split the party and worsened its
crisis in the zone.
of the national body to zone the position to the South-West; the issue of who
would be the consensus candidate further split the party and worsened its
crisis in the zone.
Among the top contenders for the position were former Ogun
State governor, Gbenga Daniels, top party stalwart, Bode George, and his
protégé, Jimi Agbaje, who was the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos
State.
State governor, Gbenga Daniels, top party stalwart, Bode George, and his
protégé, Jimi Agbaje, who was the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos
State.
For the umpteenth time, Sheriff has reiterated his
commitment to the resolution of the leadership in the party, noting that there
is no going back on current efforts to reconcile all interest groups in the
party.
commitment to the resolution of the leadership in the party, noting that there
is no going back on current efforts to reconcile all interest groups in the
party.
Sheriff said a resolution of the PDP has become imperative
as the crisis was becoming a threat to the nation’s democracy.
as the crisis was becoming a threat to the nation’s democracy.
Speaking through the National Secretary of his group, Prof
Wale Oladipo, Sheriff said his group is compiling names of its nominee for the
24-man Reconciliation Committee to be constituted jointly with the National
Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
Wale Oladipo, Sheriff said his group is compiling names of its nominee for the
24-man Reconciliation Committee to be constituted jointly with the National
Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
He said the feuding groups decided to bury the hatchet
following the intervention of some eminent Nigerians, who mediated in the
crisis behind the scene.
following the intervention of some eminent Nigerians, who mediated in the
crisis behind the scene.
