Saraki Heads PDP’s Reconciliation Panel As Defections Continue

Former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki is chairing a seven-member group charged with reconciling factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Saraki was picked by the party’s governors during a marathon meeting in Abuja on Sunday night, which dragged until the wee hours of Monday.

The chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State the Saraki committee is expected to restore peace and unity in the party.

According to him, the main task before the committee is to place the PDP in good stead ahead of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting coming up on May 27 and its National Convention, scheduled for August.

Commenting on the committee’s mandate, Saraki, who also attended the meeting,
expressed optimism that the committee would deliver on its mandate.

Other members of the committee are Governors Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Peter Mbah (Enugu) and former governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.

Senators Seriake Dickson and Ibrahim Dankwambo are also members of the committee.

Commenting on the gale of defections that has hit the PDP in the last few weeks, Governor Mohammed said it’s one of the manifestations in a democratic set up.

“Well, this is one of the manifestations of a democratic setup like ours, and it is what is compelling us to come together.

“Rather than weakening us, it is actually making us stronger. We will ensure that the chapters where we have history and established structures are not abandoned.

“Those chapters will be able to produce the next PDP governors, by the grace of God, because we will provide a level playing field in the upcoming convention,” the governor said.

The Bauchi governor said while he would not entirely blame the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the defections in the PDP, it’s likely the APC was involved.

Apart from serving governors, the meeting, which was chaired by the Bauchi State governor, also attracted former governors elected on the party’s platform.

Serving governors at the meeting were Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).

Also in attendance were the PDP Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum; Secretary of the Board of Trustees and former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi; former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson; former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

Others include former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu; former Bauchi State Governor, Adamu Muazu; former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido; and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel.

The PDP is fractured at the national and zonal levels with three factions emerging from the national level.

The crisis has thrown up the Atiku Abubakar faction, a faction loyal to the PDP Governors, and another faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Many PDP chieftains who defected to the APC in recent time, cited the crisis in the party for their action.