The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched an ambitious plan to reconcile warring top party members, especially state governors, ahead of the 2023 general election.
According to reports, the plan involves bringing the party members together for reconciliation talks to improve the party’s chances of winning the next general election.
However, the talks are being kept secret at the instance of the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, to enhance its success rate and prevent the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from scuttling the process, The Herald understands.
Sources said that the covert moves became necessary as previous reconciliation efforts failed after they became public.
It was also learnt that the party has prioritised the reconciliation of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike with his Bayelsa counterpart, Seriake Dickson. Recall that PDP lost the gubernatorial election in Bayelsa to APC late 2019.
The move to reconcile Wike and Dickson, whose feud has witnessed considerable media attention, reportedly commenced when the party dispatched Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State to meet them. The trio has met several times already although they have yet to come to a conclusion, this newspaper learnt.
The Nation quoted a PDP source as saying that the Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman of the party, Senator Walid Jibrin is also involved in the Wike-Dickson talks.
Sources also say that the party has also resolved to approach former President Goodluck Jonathan to lead its reconciliation efforts. The effort was reportedly coordinated by a former Senate President and some top party leaders. A parley was held at the Abuja home of a former Kogi State governor, last week Sunday towards the purpose, a source at the meeting disclosed.
The leaders were said to have lamented the treatment meted out to Jonathan since leaving office, especially by the party hierarchy and some PDP governors.
They added that as a man of peace, Jonathan could have complained but has chosen to maintain his silence. They, therefore, agreed that this must change in the interest of the party and since the ex-president remained one of the most admired men in the country.
The Herald also learnt that the PDP has also sought to reconcile its 2019 presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and BoT chairman, Sen. Walid Jibrin. Both gladiators were said to have been prevailed upon to sheath their swords in the party’s interest and have agreed to do so.
Recall that Jibrin some weeks back alleged a threat to his life by an unnamed group that directed him to influence the endorsement of Atiku as the party’s 2023 presidential candidate or face consequences.
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