Name Saraki chairman of reconciliation team •Inaugurates Shekarau, Ugwuanyi, Olafeso, 36 others as BoT members
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) has insisted that the opposition party would not die despite its challenges.
Chairman of the BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, stated, yesterday, in Abuja, at the inauguration of 40 new members of the board in what observers described as a desperate move to pull the main opposition party from the precipice and disintegration and demise.
Wabara said the inauguration of the new BoT members, including former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau; former Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as well as as former National Vice Chairman of the party in the South West, Eddy Olafeso, former Edo governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, former Benue governor, Samuel Ortom and former Niger governor, Babangida Aliyu was a new beginning for the party.
The BoT chairman, while congratulating the new members stated “the board of trustees has always contended that the PDP shall not die. This is manifesting itself now. The God of PDP never sleeps and will never sleep. This occasion is not only a celebration of a new beginning, but also a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to the values and principles that define our party.”
He charged the new members to see their nomination to the board as an opportunity to serve with integrity and transparency as the opposition party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
“Your role as members of the board is not only to guide and support the leadership of the party, but also to act as a stabilizing force in times of challenges and uncertainties.
“Today’s inauguration is particularly significant as we prepare to navigate the evolving political landscape and work tirelessly to restore the PDP as the foremost party in Nigeria. The task ahead is demanding, but with unity, determination and unwavering commitment to the principles of democracy, we shall overcome,” Wabara stated.
Olafeso described the event as a “regeneration of the opposition party’s glorious past.” He noted that the new members and the quality of leadership of the BoT, the PDP will make the country better.
“It is a new beginning for our party, a regeneration of the glorious past and doing everything possible to ensure that from this moment on, the PDP can continue to perform its duty as an opposition party across the country. New ideas, new people, new orientation. With the quality of leadership and the heritage of the past, we can make Nigeria better than it is today.”
Also inaugurated as BoT members were former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; former Minister of National Planning, Mohammed Daggash, former Ogun State governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu amongst others.
The new members, according to Wabara, were nominations received from the states and the zones to fill vacant seats in the BoT.
Article 32(1)(f) and (g) provides for nomination of five non-statutory members of the BoT from each of the six geo-political zones and one person from each of the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory ( FCT). While Article 32 (4) prescribes a three-year renewable tenure for non-statutory members of the board.
•Wike speaks as Saraki heads reconciliation panel
Barely 24 hours after an the PDP governors appointed former Senate president chairman of its reconciliation committee to reach out to aggrieved members to ensure the opposition party has a rancour free National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and national convention, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that he was responsible for causing division within the opposition party.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, Wike who was one of the former governors that attended the emergency meeting stated that contrary to claims, he is working to strengthen the party.
“I’m not tearing the party apart; I’m building it. “People are leaving because they are uncertain about who will sign our official documents. According to the party’s constitution, only the National Chairman or Secretary can correspond with INEC.
“Now, there’s confusion over the rightful national secretary. Take the area council elections for example — who will sign the candidate list to INEC? If Anyanwu doesn’t sign and someone else does, there will be a legal dispute.”
He insisted that he would not hesitate to challenge any action by the party’s leadership that violates the PDP constitution and urged party members to make sacrifices for the party’s stability.
“We shouldn’t trap ourselves in a crisis. If someone else issues a NEC meeting notice instead of the rightful secretary, I’ll chall
enge it. That’s the law. The Supreme Court has already ruled on this.”
The PDP Governors Forum rose from an emergency meeting on Sunday night and announced the appointment of former Senate President as chairman of its reconciliation committee to reach out to aggrieved members to ensure that the opposition party has a rancour free National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and national convention.
According to chairman of the forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State: “Governors of the party have reached out to our colleagues who have been there before, who have more in-depth experience, and whatever suggestions or opinions they may have, will go a long way in giving an added impetus to the actualization of our NEC, and our convention.
“There are some missing gaps here and there. We set up a committee of seven, headed by His Excellency, the former Senate President, and of course former Governor of Kwara State, to make sure that at least quick reconciliation and reach out will be made, in such a manner that we will have a very rancour free and harmonious NEC and convention.”
•Ganduje taunts Lamido, declares PDP dead
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has taken a swipe at the former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, while dismissing the reports suggesting that he was planning to defect to the opposition PDP.
Lamido had claimed that the APC would soon disintegrate and those who previously left the PDP, including Ganduje, would return.
Ganduje, while reacting and reaffirming his loyalty to the ruling party, told Lamido that he will soon receive him into APC because his party was already dead.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, in Abuja, Ganduje described the claim as baseless and illogical, emphasising that there is no reason for him to leave the ruling party for what he described as a “failing opposition.”
The former governor of Kano State equally predicted that the PDP will go into extinction by the end of 2025, based on the internal squabbles in the party.
“It is evident to any discerning observer that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC continues to gain momentum, with prominent political figures across the country defecting to the party in large numbers,” the statement said.
“With such overwhelming national support, the APC remains focused on consolidating its achievements and preparing for a resounding victory in the 2027 general elections.
“In fact, we will soon receive Sule Lamido because very soon he won’t have anywhere to go, the PDP is dead,” Ganduje taunted in the statement.
He further reaffirmed his pride in leading the APC, the largest political party in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, reiterating his dedication to deepening internal party democracy and promoting sustainable governance and development.
Ganduje, however, advised Lamido to focus on resolving the PDP’s internal crises instead of engaging in unfounded speculation.
Credit: The Sun