Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has met with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as part of ongoing efforts to resolve the leadership crisis plaguing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The meeting, which coincided with Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde's birthday, is one of several consultations Saraki has been conducting with party chieftains to reconcile aggrieved members and forge a united front.
Following the meeting, Saraki expressed cautious optimism about the prospects of resolving the party's internal conflicts. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated: "Following today's meeting, we remain cautiously optimistic as we forge ahead to secure a common position among the leadership of our great party."
Ongoing Reconciliation Efforts
Saraki revealed that he was accompanied by former Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo during the visit to Oyo State, highlighting the collaborative nature of the reconciliation committee's work.
"I'm currently in Oyo State with Governor Dankwambo, meeting with Governor Seyi Makinde, as part of our committee's ongoing efforts," Saraki noted in his social media update.
Origins of the PDP Crisis
The crisis within Nigeria's main opposition party began in 2022 over disagreements regarding the party's zoning formula for its presidential ticket. A group known as the G-5, which includes Governor Makinde and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, had advocated for the presidential ticket to be zoned to the South.
Their argument was based on the fact that the then-National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, hailed from the North, making it politically expedient for the presidential candidate to come from the South in the interest of regional balance.
However, the party ultimately zoned its presidential ticket to the North, paving the way for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to emerge as the PDP's flag bearer for the 2023 general elections. This decision deepened the rift within the party, with the G-5 governors distancing themselves from the party's presidential campaign.
The reconciliation efforts led by Saraki come as the party recently postponed its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to allow the peace committee to continue its consultations with key stakeholders.
Political analysts are watching closely to see if these efforts will yield the desired results and restore unity to the party ahead of future electoral contests.
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