In the midst of pervading anxiety running through the party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum Tuesday waded into its internal crisis and urged warring factions to sheathe their swords and revert to status quo.
The forum’s chairman and governor of Bauchi state, Abdulkadir Bala Mohammed, who announced this also said the suspension of some officials of the party, has been nullified.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
The decision was arrived at an emergency meeting held by the governors to salvage the party structures.The meeting which reportedly ended in the early hours of Tuesday, came in the midst of tension and anxiety that gripped the PDP while the heat lasted.
Although no dissenting voice, there are speculations that the truce may not have resolved the lingering crisis, as some party members are still in court to resolve one issue or the other.
For the past few days, the main opposition party had been enmeshed in an internal crisis which led to ego fights, brickbats and name-calling between the two factions.
But with the latest development, the embattled acting national chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum remains at the helm of affairs at the party’s national headquarters.
After the meeting, Mohammed told journalists that: “We had a family meeting, and we wish to reaffirm that there is no faction in the PDP.
“All the suspensions you heard about have been resolved by the Governors, the NWC, the Caucus of the National Assembly, and the BoT. There is no faction; everything has reverted to the status quo under acting Chairman Damagum, pending the time the governors and other organs of the party will sit down and resolve all the issues.
“As a political party, the PDP was bound to have disputes among members but that those challenges could always be resolved.
“There is no crisis. The governors, BoT, and the National Assembly caucus have agreed that the NWC should revert to the status quo.”
“Based on the decision of the Forum and in meeting and consultations with the Board of Trustees, NWC and other organs of the party, we hereby resolve as follows;
“That the organs of the party were careful in addressing issues particularly those over which there were pending legal disputes.
“That the NWC should revert to the status quo and remain united in the interest of the party and the nation.
“That all suspensions issued on officials across the parties within the NWC have been lifted forthwith.
“That there are no factions in the party and minor issues should not be blown out of proportion.
“We also urge that occupants of positions of responsibility should be mindful of their vow to serve and grow the Party from strength to strength, consolidating on the dreams of our founding fathers.
“There is no party that does not have problems. Some of them are legal, and we do not want to preempt the outcome of legal procedures.
“So whatever speculations and perceptions have gone out are wrong. Both parties have agreed that, in the interest of the party and Nigeria, we should return to the status quo before the suspension and counter-suspension.
“These suspensions have been lifted; there are no more suspensions. That is the resolution of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
“To members of the party, they should remember that it is the PDP we have, and it is the most experienced party that has produced government and good governance since 1999. We should make sacrifices and come together. Yes, we may have ill feelings here and there, but we should bury them.
“Our personal feelings should not be allowed to create perceptions that seem to divide us,” the communiqué further read.
On the coming NEC slated for this month, Mohammed added: “The governors, BoT, and NWC will sit down and discuss the sacrosanctity of the October 24 NEC meeting.”
While urging the press not to escalate the crisis, the communiqué added: “There is no crisis in the party as far as I am concerned, but some people want to take advantage of the situation.
“As far as I am concerned, the governors are our leaders and critical organs of this party, and when they speak, we must look at it holistically and also abide by it.”
“Damagum, Ologunagba and Ajibade, have they left? They are still at the party,” said the governors.
…Party promises victory in Ondo poll
And in the midst of this crisis, the PDP National Vice Chairman (South west), Chief Kamorudeen Ajisafe, has assured that the crisis rocking the national leadership of the party will not stop its victory in the November governorship election in Ondo state.
Ajisafe, who made the statement Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the chances of PDP’s candidate ,Mr Agboola Ajayi, in the November 16 election ,remained bright.
He assured that the leadership crisis would soon be resolved, adding that Nigerians still have much confidence in the party.
Ajisafe said many Nigerians, especially voters in Ondo state, had expressed confidence in PDP to better their lot, owing to what he called non-performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Our chances are bright ; I can inform you that politicians are actually moving into our party from other political parties to demonstrate their desire to have PDP back into power.
“PDP will surely win this election and we are quite hopeful because of the support expressed by the people,” Ajisafe said.
“We want INEC and the security agencies to be neutral and allow fair play in the interest of the country and posterity,” he said.
The PDP chieftain called on the National Assembly to amend the electoral law in order to allow for electronic transmission of all election results from polling units.
“With the electronic transmission of results, we will no longer talk of coalition centres again and that will reduce the level of the manipulation we witnessed in previous elections.”
On the national leadership crisis bedeviling the PDP, Ajisafe described the emergence of factional groups within the National Working Committee (NWC) as a product of misunderstanding and not a sign of a big crisis.
“We are trying as much as possible not to allow that matter to affect us in the forthcoming Ondo election.
NAN gathered that 18 political parties are fielding candidates for the November 16, 2024 governorship election in Ondo state.