By ‘Dotun Akintomide
Reasons have emerged why chieftains of the new People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) bloc within the All Progressives Congress (APC) are increasingly becoming unhappy with the party, forcing their meeting with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo Monday.
According to The Nation on Wednesday, some of the complaints nPDP asked the presidency to look into include: Saraki’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT); sidelining of Speaker Dogara and Senator Kwankwaso from APC ward and local government congresses in Bauchi and Kano states.
And the alleged persecution of ex-nPDP members by anti-graft agencies and Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris.
On Monday, the members of the nPDP that attended the meeting with Osinbajo-led federal delegates were Senate President Bukola Saraki, Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto Governor; Abdulfatah Ahmed, Governor of Kwara; Rabiu Kwakwanso, former Kano Governor among others.
Spokesman of the group, Kawu Baraje, told State House correspondents that the meeting was a good beginning, but they were looking forward to also meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Members of the nPDP had written a letter to the party copying the President and the Vice-President.
“So the party had invited us earlier on and now it is the turn of the Vice-President, probably the next one will be the President,” Baraje said.
Furthermore, the meeting raised an eight-man panel to resolve the lingering issues before APC’s national convention in June
The panel will comprise four members each from both sides.
Osinbajo is leading the presidency’s four members on the panel but the nPDP has yet to submit its list.
Other members of the presidency’s team include Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and APC Deputy National Chairman (North) Lawal Shuaibu.