After the previous general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held a reconciliation meeting at its Abuja headquarters on Tuesday.
The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the G-5, headed by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, should have been included in the meeting.
Ambassador Iliya Damagum, the interim National Chairperson of the biggest opposition party, led a stakeholders conference to assess the 2023 elections and find a path ahead.
Atiku and the G5 were missing from the meeting of 180 party chieftains.
In his opening comments, Damagum said the group will evaluate the previous general elections and discuss how to strengthen the party to tackle future problems.
He said the National Ex-officio, state chairmen, select BoT members, and National Assembly members had met.
The party leader added: “This is a continuation of that meeting, and it was developed out of what has transpired throughout previous meetings, and we felt we needed to call this one.
“Initially, the gathering was meant to be for just the founding fathers of this party, and we learned that after approximately twenty-something years of this party’s existence, a lot of individuals had also graduated to founding fathers.
“From our first governors of those years, they may not be the genuine founding fathers, but they have given their own to the party to be acknowledged as members of this great party and leaders in their own right.”
Damagum advised participants to watch their words in an interactive session to avoid fraying nerves.
“Anyone in this hall today is here because they intended good for this celebration. I urge us to contribute without offending others. “We are one family and will stay,” he said.
PDP National Organizing Secretary,
Umar Bature claimed the election-related stress prompted the gathering.
He also rejected suspensions as a crisis solution.
Bature, who noted the party’s successes in the recent general elections, predicted that the PDP will win five more states in the electoral tribunal case.
“That is the first gathering following the general election,” he said. We carefully scheduled this conference to reduce party friction after the 2023 elections.
Our party believes Atiku Abubakar won the election, but we are in court and will keep it aside. This is not an NEC meeting but an interactive gathering to start a reconciliation process.
“Let me preview our previous election performance. We have 342 State House of Assembly members and 116 House of Representatives members. We have 36 senators and 13 governors. We are certain that the tribunal cases in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Ogun, and Sokoto States would favour us.
As the Acting National Chairman said, we began these meetings with the ex-officio and updated them on party administration and our performance in the 2023 election.
We addressed state chapter problems. We also examined state chapter and other party organ vacancies due to swinging membership. Some attended parties and such. We solicited party improvements.
“Everyone knows what occurred in 2023. We all helped. If you talk, please explain your position in the 2023 elections before accusing others. Everyone contributed. Please state your role.
“Anyone here might be accused of pro or anti-party activity. We want to know what to do with the party before we consult the national caucus and NEC. Our substantial membership gives me optimism for the party.
When we travelled to Port Harcourt, we knew the challenges that may likely arise here. Why we travelled to Port Harcourt. Several of our elders may be accused of certain roles here.
I rejected a proposal to suspend a member in my state. He can go anyplace. Suspending him acknowledges his party-harming actions. Bad party behaviour does not warrant suspension.”
Adolphus Wabara, former senate president and PDP BoT chairman, praised members for being loyal and advised them to monitor their remarks during debates.
“Honestly, I didn’t anticipate this amount in our party,” he remarked. I applaud our trust in this party. This will strengthen us to win our stolen triumph. Not to worry. Politically active!
“They stole our mandate,” said our acting National Chairman. We hope the tribunal and courts return our stolen mandate. We should watch what we say today since we’re still in court, even if we disagree with the summary.
Watch us attack ourselves. That’ll come. The BOT awaits advisory conclusions, but this is not the time.”
