… ‘Ex-President remains card-carrying member promises commitment’
The Tanimu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on Tuesday amid the festering factional crisis in the opposition party.
Turaki led members of his National Working Committee (NWC) to the meeting in company with some party elders, former governors, ex-ministers and state party chairmen.
Speaking after the about one and a half-hour meeting, which was held at the former president’s Maitama office, Turaki said the mission was essentially to brief him on the state of affairs in the party, and preparations for the off-season governorship elections coming up in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as the 2027 general elections.
He said the leadership of the party also sought Jonathan’s advice and guidance on how to pilot the affairs of the party.
Turaki stated, “We came first to introduce members of the newly-elected National Working Committee to him, and then to tell him what we have been doing since our election at the National Convention that was held last November in Ibadan.
“We have briefed him on the state of the party, the challenges, the prospects, and in this visit, we are accompanied by former governors, members of the Board of Trustees, founding fathers and founding mothers, Forum of State Chairmen, in addition to other leaders of the party that also include former ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We have solicited, as usual, for his support, for his guidance, for his advice, as always. And we have his assurance that he is still a card-carrying member of the PDP; he is still active, and will even be more active these days in the activities and affairs of the party.”
Although Jonathan saw off the visitors to the door of his office and shook hands with Turaki, the former president did not make any comments before quickly retreating back into the building.
However, Turaki told journalists that during the meeting, Jonathan reassured them of his commitment to the PDP and the lofty ideals of the founding fathers.
According to him, Jonathan promised not to abandon the party because the PDP had done a lot for his political career.
He spoke more, “He has assured us that PDP has done everything for him that can be done to an individual, and that he still feels that he remains obligated to PDP.
“His remarks and statements are not only reassuring, but indeed they are very, very encouraging as we begin to prepare for elections, off-season elections in Ekiti and Osun this year and 2027 general elections.”
He added that Jonathan was as concerned as everyone about the crises and legal battles in the party and hoped for their early resolution.
When asked whether a political solution was on the table for consideration, Turaki replied that the party under his leadership had taken the stance that genuine members were welcome if they were prepared for reconciliation.
“Those who have shown concern. Those that have shown remorse, remarkable remorse and are willing to now continue to be loyal party men and women, we’ll carry them along,” Turaki explained.
Speaking on the fate of the party’s Ekiti governorship candidate, Dr Oluwole Oluyede, having been denied recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Turaki said the party met all legal requirements from the point of conducting the primaries and having INEC monitor it.
He, however, expressed shock that along the line, the electoral umpire blocked the party from having access to upload Oluyede’s name on its portal and had to resort to manual submission.
Turaki also claimed that the same INEC, which earlier “recognised” the leadership of the party, suddenly made a U-turn to shut the door against the PDP Ekiti governorship candidate.
“We do understand that there are certain events that are beginning to raise doubts in our minds and in the minds of other people, whether this present and immediate leadership of ( INEC) is indeed independent”, he added.
The Nigerian Tribune recalls that INEC, late last year, officially wrote to the party that it would not accord any factional leadership recognition until the final determination of the various litigation pending before the law courts.
However, the Turaki-led NWC has continued to hold consultations with various stakeholder layers of the party in its rebuilding efforts.
On the other side, the faction led by Honourable Mohammed Abdulrahman and backed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, is also busy planning for a new national convention, it said would be held this year.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune