Ahead of Monday’s meeting of the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the presidential candidate of the party in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, some governors elected on the party’s platform, some National Assembly members held a closed-door meeting on Saturday at Chief Tom Ikimi’s Maitama, Abuja residence, to discuss the future of the party.
Present at the meeting were the former Governor of Delta State and vice presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 general election, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and the incumbent governor of the state, Sheriff Oborevwori.
Others present include Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State; Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Governors Ademola Adeleke; Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State; and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
THISDAY gathered that the meeting was to take a strategic position on the future of the party ahead of the Monday meeting of PDP stakeholders.
The Acting National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, summoned a special meeting of the PDP stakeholders on Monday to discuss the party’s unity and reconciliation.
Atiku confirmed Saturday’s meeting on his verified Twitter handle.
“Earlier today, I joined other leaders and stakeholders of our great party, the PDP, at a meeting in Abuja. The meeting was ripe with productive discourse and collaborative energy,” he tweeted.
A source privy to the meeting told THISDAY that the party’s stakeholders’ meeting will discuss various reconciliation strategies by the party.
”We will not shy away if issues of the former governor of River State, Nyesom Wike, and his romance with the APC come up as well as what implications that could befall him should he appear before the screening committee that will screen the ministerial nominees as from Monday. If it comes up, a position will be taken,” the source explained.
Another source, who told THISDAY that “Wike is not basically the agenda of the meeting,” however, added that the former governor cannot be a member of PDP and as well a member of APC.
“If he appears before the ministerial screening committee, it is a fait accompli that Wike is no longer a member of PDP as he cannot eat his cake and still have it,” the source added.
The source said the meeting would focus on how to ensure reconciliation and how to move the party forward due to the perception that February 25 could be cancelled.
Also in attendance at yesterday’s meeting was the former National Secretary of the party, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido.
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
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