Saraki’s PDP Reconciliation Committee Berths in Ibadan

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reconciliation train rolled into Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday, as the party’s strategy committee, led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, met with Governor Seyi Makinde at the Government House, Agodi.

The meeting, which was the second between Saraki and Makinde since the former took up the assignment, is part of the ongoing efforts to resolve the protracted crisis rocking the party.

The PDP has been embroiled in a bitter power struggle, with some stakeholders insisting that the party’s 2027 presidential candidate should come from the South, in line with the party’s zoning arrangement.

The crisis deepened on Tuesday, when some stakeholders, including members of the ‘G5 governors’, met in Abuja, where they resolved that the party’s presidential candidate should come from the South.

The meeting, which was hosted by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, also faulted the removal of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary, and called for his reinstatement.

Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, emphasized that peace can only reign in the party if its constitutional provision on rotation is upheld.

The Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP has hailed Wike and the G5 governors for their efforts, describing their resolutions as critical to the survival of the party.

The meeting between Saraki and Makinde is seen as a crucial step towards resolving the crisis, as Makinde is a major factor in the party.

Although the details of their discussion were not made public, it is believed that the meeting was aimed at finding a common ground among the party’s leadership.

Saraki, who confirmed the meeting on his Facebook page, wrote: “Thank you, Your Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, for making time to meet with us today – even though it coincided with your wife’s birthday. Warm wishes to Her Excellency Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde. Following today’s meeting, we remain cautiously optimistic as we forge ahead to secure a common position among the leadership of our great party.”

The PDP is scheduled to hold its convention in Kano in August, and the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting is expected to take place by the end of this month.

With the party’s internal crisis showing no signs of abating, the meeting between Saraki and Makinde is seen as a glimmer of hope for the party’s reconciliation efforts.

As the party struggles to find a way out of its current impasse, all eyes are on Saraki and his committee to broker a lasting peace and ensure that the PDP emerges stronger and more united than ever.

With the 2027 presidential election looming on the horizon, the party’s ability to resolve its internal crisis will be crucial in determining its chances of success at the polls.