The attempt by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reconcile key stakeholders within the main opposition party suffered a major blow Tuesday as aggrieved members stayed away from the parley.
TheHintsNews reports that the PDP contested the the last general election with a divided house, as a result of its failure to resolve issues that emanated from the nomination of the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar and vice presidential candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
Recall that after the party’s convention that produced Atiku and Okowa, aggrieved members led by the ‘Integrity Group’, the forum of G-5 governors led by the immediate past Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike called for the immediate resignation of former the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
But the refusal of the party leadership to accede to the demand of the G-5 governors was one of the major factors that led to the defeat of the party.
However, the peace parley held Tuesday suffered a major setback as key stakeholders including Atiku, Okowa, Wike and his G-5 team among other stakeholders were visibly absent.
Although, the immediate past Governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, who was a member of the G-5 spent the whole of Tuesday at the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office following the invitation extended to him to answer allegations of financial misappropriation during his eight years as governor of the state.
Nevertheless, the reason for the absence of other members of the G-5 team including the immediate past Governor of Abia state, Okezie Ikpeazu, former Governor of Enugu state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Wike and Seyi Makinde of Oyo state were not known.
While speaking at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, before the meeting went into a close session, the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, said the parley was convened to douse tension and kickstart reconciliation within the party in the aftermath of the election.
His words: “This party believes that Atiku Abubakar won the election, but we are in court, and without prejudice to what the court will decide, we will keep it aside. Let me acknowledge that this is not a NEC meeting, but an interactive meeting with the aim to jump-starting a reconciliation process.
“We are here today and everyone knows what happened in 2023. We contributed both individually and collectively. If you rise to speak, I beg you to spell out your own role in the 2023 elections, either positive or negative before you jump to accuse someone else either negative or positive.”
On his part, the acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagun, said the meeting was in continuation of the National Working Committee (NWC) consultation with critical stakeholders, in a bid to chart the way forward for the party after the last election.
He added that the meeting would give the party an opportunity to review the outcome of the last general election and to share ideas about how to strengthen the party to face the challenges ahead.
“We have had a series of meetings with the members of the National Ex officio, state Chairmen, select BoT and members of the National Assembly. This is a continuation of that meeting and it was borne out of what has happened during those meetings and we said there was need for us to call this one,” Damagun said.