FCT Minister Wike, Saraki, Lamido Lead Fresh Move To Rescue PDP, reveal action plan

 

A new rescue effort is taking shape within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as prominent figures including former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike move to halt the party’s worsening internal collapse.

The opposition party has endured a year long internal war that has steadily hollowed out its structure. Six governors have already left its fold, five defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Osun State governor Ademola Adeleke is reportedly being wooed by the Accord Party.

The deepening feud has also triggered a cycle of expulsions and counter-expulsions between rival factions battling for control, with fears that the crisis could jeopardize the PDP’s prospects in next year’s off-season governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun.

Saraki is believed to be spearheading a fresh intervention centred on forming a caretaker committee comprising nominees from both camps.

If approved, the committee would oversee party affairs until a widely accepted national convention is held.

The party’s recent convention in Ibadan, which produced a new National Executive Committee led by Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu, has become mired in litigation.

Saraki had earlier proposed a caretaker arrangement before the Ibadan gathering but stayed away, arguing that attending would worsen the conflict.

According to sources who spoke with The Nation, Saraki has now revived the plan and is reaching out to key stakeholders.

Wike whose faction disputes the legitimacy of the Ibadan convention and Lamido, who secured a court order halting the event, are reportedly willing to consider the caretaker option.

Stakeholders are expected to meet this week to formalize the proposal.

One source said: “Former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki who has been the leading factor in efforts towards reconciliation suggested the formation of a National Caretaker Committee weeks ago and his loyalists as well as those working with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and former Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido have already gone far on the National Caretaker Committee project.”

Another added: “Efforts have reached a climax and with the expiration of the current PDP National Working Committee’s four-year tenure on December 10 and the legally invalid basis for the November 15 gathering in Ibadan, the only pragmatic way out is for PDP to have a National Caretaker Committee.”

A PDP legislator also warned: “Contending sides in the leadership tussle are aware that the next ruling from the Federal High Court will most likely be based on the constitutional pre-convention conditions that were never fulfilled before the so-called Ibadan convention and without the immediate constitution of a Caretaker Committee, the party may find itself in limbo.”

Another source noted that allies of key party leaders are pushing quickly to actualize the caretaker proposal, which they consider the most viable route to resolving the prolonged crisis.

Following the Ibadan convention, Ambassador Umar Damagum handed over leadership to Tanimu, though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) website still lists Damagum and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the PDP’s National Chairman and National Secretary respectively. (Naija news)