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Governors and National Assembly members elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other stakeholders in the party have commenced moves to woo the former Rivers State governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as well as other members of the G-5 governors, THISDAY has learnt.
THISDAY gathered that the consultations with Wike and his G-5 group were part of the efforts to get the support of the group in the ongoing plan to ensure the emergence of the former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki as the next chairman of the PDP.
The pressure on Saraki to throw his hat in the ring for the position of the National Chairman of the PDP was said to have gathered momentum as more stakeholders from the six geopolitical zones have backed the move.
A source within the party told THISDAY off the record that as part of these consultations, the governors and members of the National Assembly will meet with all the members of the G-5 governors.
“We are also planning to meet the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde; former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom; former governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, and former governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi,” the source said.
The source added that the arrowhead of the planned meeting with Makinde is the Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja.
“The influence of Wike is still strong in the PDP and it is believed that the FCT minister has a hold on the governor of Rivers State, Simi Fubara,” the source added.
The source also claimed that since Fubara became the Rivers State governor and Deputy Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, he has not identified with the PDP at the national level.
According to the source, the Rivers State governor has not attended any meeting summoned by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP.
He said the stakeholders believe Wike has a huge influence on Fubara.
The source said: “The Wike group has clarified that they will not leave the party. Following that decision, they must work to retain their influence in the party. One of the ways to do so is to be part of the power groups that will determine the future of the party by influencing who leads the party from next year.
“Since the train, which is working to elect Saraki is moving fast and getting more passengers, they need to quickly jump on it and be part of the forces that will propel the train to a successful destination.
“Failure to do this will lead to the emergence of a hostile chairman who may move against them. They know Saraki is a bridge builder. Somebody they can trust to be neutral and with the capacity and resources to rebuild the party. The meeting is the first step the Wike group is making.”
The source explained that after the Supreme Court’s verdict on Atiku’s case against President Bola Tinubu, the next assignment for PDP is to resolve the party’s leadership issue and reconciliation.
The source said: “Saraki visited Wike in his Abuja home.”
It was learnt that though Wike is serving in an APC government, he still has great influence on the PDP National Working Committee members.
On the issue of resolving the party’s leadership issues, there are indications that the suspended National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu may have finally lost out in the power game as Atiku recently addressed him as the former national chairman of the party.
The event was the press conference by the former vice president on the outcome of the Chicago State University deposition on President Tinubu’s academic records.
Atiku and others who spoke at the occasion addressed Ayu as the former national chairman of the PDP.
Chuks Okocha
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