PDP crisis: Wike’s group lists demands as elders meet

To make the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, approach the 2023 general polls with a united front, the party’s Boad of Trustees, BoT; and National Working Committee, NWC, have stepped in to address the lingering crisis between its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and supporters of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

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Both organs of the party will meet tomorrow.

Ahead of the meeting, state co-ordinators of the Wike Presidential Campaign Council, after a meeting with Wike, on Sunday, resolved to, among other things, remain in the PDP.

Vanguard gathered that they have hammered out a list of demands for truce they will present to Atiku Abubakar in the presence of PDP leaders.

Sources said the demands include getting Abubakar to agree to do one term, if elected; asking National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, to resign as chairman to enable a Southerner take over in line with the North-South power sharing formula since the presidential candidate is from the North; and headship of the Senate and House of Representatives, among others.

‘Minimum conditions’

They also agreed to give “irreducible minimum” conditions whenever the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the party leadership approach them for a truce.

Vanguard gathered in Abuja, yesterday, that the members of the council, especially governors, after reviewing happenings in the party since the PDP presidential primary and selection of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as running mate, agreed that Wike deserves to be treated better.

‘No quitting PDP’

They, however, noted that irrespective of the fact that they were hurt and rightly so, their individual and collective interests would be better served within the party.

A source familiar with this development who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to hamper ongoing reconciliation efforts, said: “A date for the meeting (between the party leadership and Wike) has not yet been agreed on. Wike has been silent since this whole thing started. We expect a cessation of the insults being heaped on him by some party leaders. He deserves respect, to disrespect him is to say we no longer matter.

 “All party members who supported the aspiration of Governor Wike look forward to the meeting between the party, the presidential aspirant and him. It is not on the pages of newspapers; no one has approached him for a face-to-face meeting.