In a bid to address the many defections and internal crisis rocking the party, governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, recently met with past governors and other party stakeholders to discuss the way forward.
The governors also invited members of the Board of Trustees and former presiding officers of the National Assembly to the meeting, and they addressed how the party can be more united ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Recall that PDP keeps losing key members as a party, and it recently lost Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and the core PDP structure in the state to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
With National Assembly members also dumping PDP for APC, and 3 Kebbi lawmakers pledging allegiance to the APC after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu last Friday, the PDP leaders were forced into convening to prevent Nigeria from becoming a one-party state.
The meeting, convened by the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, was focused on defining the party’s strategic direction, ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Peter Mbah (Enugu) and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), all in attendance.
Some PDP governors were, however, notably absent, and they were Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa); and the suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.
Their failure to show up, especially Governor Fubara’s absence, is further proof of the widening cracks within the party, especially in states battling with internal leadership disputes and increasing pressure from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Even if the purpose of the meeting was not revealed to newsmen, reports have said that deliberations were centred around whether or not PDP should seek collaboration with other opposition parties or concentrate on internal consolidation, as agreed in earlier consultations.
With the upcoming governorship elections looming in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun States, party leaders are exploring how to mobilise resources and galvanise support for the PDP candidates as they aim to seal victories that will boost PDP’s momentum ahead of the national elections.
The outcome of the meeting is set to play a vital role in shaping the PDP’s future as it battles internal problems and readies itself for crucial elections in the near future.
