As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to grapple with internal discord, former Senate President Bukola Saraki has intensified reconciliation efforts with key stakeholders.
On Monday, Saraki held a crucial meeting with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, amid attempts to restore unity and forge a consensus among aggrieved factions within the party.
The meeting, held in Ibadan, is part of the broader engagement by a committee of senior party leaders committed to navigating the lingering leadership rift that has plagued the PDP since its divisive presidential primaries in 2022.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Saraki disclosed that he was accompanied by former Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo.
He also extended birthday wishes to Makinde’s wife, acknowledging the personal sacrifice made by the governor to accommodate the meeting.
“Following today’s meeting, we remain cautiously optimistic as we forge ahead to secure a common position among the leadership of our great party,” Saraki wrote.
The former Senate President has in recent weeks met with several party figures as part of ongoing efforts to bring the PDP’s warring camps to the negotiating table.
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The root of the crisis dates back to the party’s controversial zoning decision in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections.
A significant bloc within the PDP, including Makinde and the then-influential G-5 Governors led by Nyesom Wike (now FCT Minister), had opposed the emergence of a northern presidential candidate on the grounds that the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, also hailed from the North.
Despite calls for equity and balance, the PDP leadership opted to zone its presidential ticket to the North, resulting in the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s standard-bearer.
The fallout from that decision continues to reverberate across the party.
As the PDP positions itself for the 2027 electoral cycle, the success of Saraki’s consultations may prove crucial in rebuilding the trust and cohesion the party needs to pose a formidable challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Whether these reconciliatory overtures will lead to a united front remains to be seen.