National Expanded Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, met in Abuja Monday night, with an agreement to rebuild the party as it prepares for its national convention.
It was the first gathering of members of the party since the Supreme Court sacked the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led national working committee last Wednesday.
In attendance were former President Goodluck Jonathan; Chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Makarfi and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Ayodele Fayose.
Speaking, Jonathan told the gathering, which included Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu; a former President of the Senate, David Mark; and governors of Rivers, Taraba, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Gombe states, that a strong party would attract the people.
Jonathan said, “First thing to do is to build the party because a strong party is the key to expansion. A strong party acts like a magnet and will attract all the people. Nigerians still believe in the PDP.
”So many people including non-politicians were happy at the PDP victory in Supreme Court.”
The former President insisted that the PDP remained the largest party that could unite the country.
He said that his presence was to appreciate members of the PDP, adding that the party passed through some challenges and came out of them peacefully.
In his remarks, Makarfi commended the members of the party for “being unyielding in their faith on the judicial system.”
He said members of other political parties were already planning to defect to the PDP, but said he would not mention their names and where they would be coming from.
“This hall will not contain us by the time they start to come back to the PDP. I will not tell you who they are or where they are,” the former governor of Kaduna State said.
In his remark, Fayose said: “The APC must die so that the PDP can rise. Old change will give way for a new change. Now the coast is clear, all the party leaders should go home and work for the PDP.
“If this party must win, get Nigerians’ confidence restored, our leaders must go home to boost the party.
“If this party must return to power, we need to get the confidence of Nigerians.”