By Tajudeen Balogun
The National Caucus of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been scheduled to reconvene today (Tuesday) to deliberate on the crises rocking the party.
Recall that the caucus started its closed-door meeting on Monday, but without a resolution.
After about three hours of the meeting which was held at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge, the PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, told journalists that the discussions had been suspended and would resume today (Tuesday) by 10am.
“The meeting has been adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday. Tonight, some of the party leaders will meet. Saraki’s panel will also meet and present solution reports tomorrow.
“These solution-based reports will set the pace to reopen peace discussions and determine if the NEC meeting can hold as scheduled. If not, a new date for the NEC meeting will be announced” Damagun announced.
However, key members of the PDP National Caucus, including: former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo, as well as former Senate President David Mark and former Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal were absent from the meeting.
The New Diplomat reports that the PDP has been embroiled with internal but multifaceted leadership and political crises.
The crux of the PDP rumpus include: the crisis in Rivers State, disputes over the South South Zonal Congress, the controversy surrounding the position of the party’s National Secretary, and most recently, the North Central Zonal Congress, have further de-stabilised the party.
For instance, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Nyesom Wike, Governors: Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), and others, are said to be aggrieved by decisions made by the National Working Committee (NEC) and the PDP Governors’ Forum.
The decisions were believed to have been influenced by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, his Enugu State counterpart, Peter Mbah, and Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed.
They were perceived to be working on whittling down the political influence of the FCT Minister, Wike in the PDP.
The New Diplomat reports how Wike rejected the Senator Bukola Saraki-led reconciliation panel, citing lack of trust and violations of mutual agreement and understanding by the party’s leaders
