Indications have emerged that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has finally dropped plans to sanction some stalwarts alleged to have engaged in anti-party activities during the 2023 general elections.
It was gathered that the decision to drop the plan followed the setting up of a 25-member reconciliation committee headed by ex-Osun State governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
After losing the 2023 presidential election to the All Progressives Congress, APC, the PDP national leadership in March 2024 directed the chairmen of the party in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to identify members involved in anti-party activities during the polls.
The directive was prompted by calls for the sanction of those accused of anti-party activities.
“A lot of agitations are coming from party members, suspend this, suspend that, you are the ones that are in charge of those states.
“You are to tell us who was involved in anti-party activities and who did not; and based on that, the National Executive Committee (NEC) will take a decision. Write to us and tell us what transpired, no matter what happened,” PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, said while issuing the directive during a meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, with state chairmen in Abuja.
It was gathered that a comprehensive list of party members accused of anti-party activities was compiled by the NWC, based on the reports submitted by the state chairmen.
It was expected that those on the list would be sanctioned at the party’s 98th NEC meeting in April 2024, but no decision was taken on the matter.
Since then, the party has been silent on the planned sanction of members accused of anti-party activities in the elections.
Top on the list of those expected to be sanctioned for alleged anti-party activities are members of the then PDP G-5 Governors who worked against the presidential ambition of the party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
They were led by Nyesom Wike, former Rivers State governor who has been appointed FCT minister by the President Bola Tinubu-led APC government. The others are ex-Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, ex-Abia governor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Benue governor Samuel Ortom, and Oyo governor Seyi Makinde.
A source in the PDP, who did not wish to be named, informed NewsNGR that the party has decided to drop the plan to sanction members accused of anti-party activities during the 2023 polls.
“Instead of pursuing sanctions, the party has decided to bring everybody together by mending fences and pursuing reconciliation. PDP has always been one large family and that has always been our strength.
“We believe that, by the time the reconciliation is concluded, the party will be stronger and positioned perfectly for the challenges ahead,” he said.
NewsNGR reports that the PDP NEC had last Friday, August 9, approved the setting up of a 25-member National Reconciliation Committee, with former Osun State governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola as Chairman and ex-Gombe State governor Ibrahim Dankwambo as Secretary. Chief Anicho Okoro was appointed the Administrative Secretary.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement said the committee will be inaugurated at a later date.
The statement said the NWC approved the setting up of the committee following the approval of the NEC.
Other members of the committee include
Dr. Boyelayefa Debekem, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, Chief Dan Ulasi, Abdulsamad Dasuki, Segun Showunmi, Amina B.B. Faruk, Alhaji Hamza Akuyan Koshe, Mike Ikoku, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Bisi Fakayode and Chibudom Nwuche.
Others are Alhaji Bello Tafidan Gusau, Senator Ben Ndi Obi, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Senator Shuaibu Isa Lau, Dr. Esther Uduehi, Senator Zainab Kure, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Alhaja Mutia Olayinka Ladoja, Dr. Abimbola Ogunkelu, and Ude Oko-Chukwu.