 has appointed former Senate President Bukola Saraki){kind=link}
In a bid to mend cracks within its ranks, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed former Senate President Bukola Saraki to head a reconciliation team aimed at uniting aggrieved members.
This move comes as the party prepares for its crucial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting slated for the end of May.
The announcement followed a high-level gathering on Sunday night at the Abuja residence of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who also chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum.
Attendees included key figures such as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and governors from states including Osun, Plateau, Adamawa, Oyo, and Enugu.
Also present were influential former governors from Cross River, Imo, Osun, Abia, and Bayelsa, along with PDP Acting National Chairman Umar Damagun and ex-Caretaker Chairman Ahmed Makarfi.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Governor Mohammed revealed that the involvement of past leaders was strategic, aimed at harnessing their experience to resolve disputes and ensure a smooth convention later in the year.
Despite recent defections, including that of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his cabinet to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mohammed expressed optimism.
He claimed such departures would only strengthen the party’s resolve, noting efforts were underway to reclaim PDP-led states now lost.
The party has faced persistent internal unrest since the 2023 elections, worsened by tensions between ex-Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and current Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Previous attempts by party organs to settle disputes have so far failed to yield lasting peace.
The PDP now finds itself fighting not only to maintain cohesion but also to counter what some see as a gradual shift toward a one-party state, especially after recent high-profile defections at both the state and federal levels.