The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has initiated moves to woo former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Senate President Bukola Saraki; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara back to its fold.
Others targeted by the party include Senators Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aliyu Wamakko, Abdullahi Adamu, Danjuma Goje and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
The party appointed Governor Nyesom Wike (Rivers) as chairman and Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) as deputy chairman of a reconciliation committee set up to woo the high profile politicians back to its fold.
National Caretaker Chairman Senator Ahmed Makarfi inaugurated the committee and urged it to deliver on the assignment.
The party also appointed a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, as chairman of a newly inaugurated Disciplinary Committee. A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara was named as deputy.
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is chairman of National Convention Committee with former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido as deputy chairman.
Makarfi urged the reconciliation committee to extend its assignment to the founding members of the PDP, stressing that the dragnet should be extended beyond those who left the in 2015.
Makarfi said those targets should “include President, Vice President, governors and former senate president, speaker of House of Representatives and all other former top ranking members in the party.
“Everybody that was in PDP at one time or the other should be reconciled with. It is not limited to pre-2015”.
Makarfi also mandated the committee to reach out to other individuals who have never been in the PDP, with a view to bringing them into the party, without any conditions attached.
He assured members that went through thick and thin with the party that they would not be sidelined. “We cannot foreclose opportunity for those who stayed behind during the turbulent period”.
Ikimi assured that former PDP members who defected to the APC would soon be back in the party.
He said: “APC is now dying and is almost dead. I am aware that they were able to win in 2015 because of members of PDP who defected there.
“I have it on good authority that key members who left PDP and joined APC are now returning to the party. I would like us to receive them with open hands and we will rebuild the party”.
The party also suspended the former factional Chairman in Anambra State Ken Emeakayi
National Publicity Secretary Dayo Adeyeye who announced the decision, said three days after the dissolution of all factional executive in the state in July, Emeakayi went ahead to summon a meeting of his faction, which was in violation of the decision of the National Caretaker Committee.
He said the committee issued him a query but rather than respond to the issue, Emeakayi disparaged the national leadership.
“His reply not only showed disrespect to the National Caretaker Committee, he disparaged the personality of the chairman and the secretary.
“He issued words of abuse totally unbecoming of a person who claimed to be holding an important office as chairman of a state chapter.
“We found this to be gross indiscipline. And today, we decided on this matter, in accordance with the provisions of our constitution.
“So, the National Caretaker Committee at its meeting today took cognisance of the violation of the Provision of Section 58 (1A, B, C, G, H, I, J, M) of the PDP Constitution 2012 (as amended) by Chief Ken Emeakayi.
“We took a decision to immediately suspend him for one month, in accordance with Section 57 (3) of the PDP Constitution 2012 (as amended),” Adeyeye said.
He added that the case of Emeakayi had also been referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further disciplinary action.
Adeyeye said seven aspirants had obtained the PDP nomination and expression of interest forms for the November 28 Anambra State Governorship election.
They are Dr Alex Obiogolu, Mr Oseloka Obaze, Prince Okechukwu Emeka, Dr patrick Ubah, Mr Akolisa Ufodike, Lynda Ikpeazu and Mrs Stella Oduah.
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