2023: Atiku, Mark push PDP reconciliation drive

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is leading an initiative for reconciliation in the crisis ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 election, party sources said yesterday.

It was the main reason for his Wednesday meeting with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in Port Harcourt, it was gathered.

Wike and the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, are currently at loggerheads over the way the party is being run.

The Rivers State governor, who spearheaded Secondus’ emergence as party chair, does not want the chairman in place by the time the party picks its presidential candidate for 2023.

Atiku, who enjoys Secondus’ backing, is said to be interested in the race once again.

Sources said the Port Harcourt meeting was also meant to enable the former vice president to resolve the crisis of confidence between the governor and the PDP National Chairman.

But Wike, according to sources, insisted on the sack of Secondus as a precondition for peace and stability in the PDP.

Also pushing for peace in the party is former Senate President David Mark who has summoned a meeting of like minds on the way forward for the PDP.

It was not clear yesterday whether the Mark initiative is a consolidation of the recent effort by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on the matter or a fresh one.

Senator David Mark, on his part, has met with leaders of like minds on how to resolve the crisis in the PDP.

The meeting, which was held at Mark’s residence in Abuja, was also said to be part of steps to suggest ways on how to reposition the party for the next general elections.

Those at the meeting were ex-President of the Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim; ex-Senate President Iyorchia Ayu, ex-governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Sule Lamido and Ahmed Makarfi (who is also a former National Chairman of PDP) and Senator Zainab Kure, among others.

A top source said: “No one is happy with the situation in PDP. Our party is not in good stead for the 2023 polls. Some leaders and governors are behaving as if they are greater than the party.

“Mark convened a meeting of like minds in order to salvage the situation. We must have a solid party before we can aspire to any office.

“These elders are trying to find ways of bringing all forces in the party to the table to save the PDP from collapse.”

It was not certain if the like minds would be meeting with the Chairman of the PDP Reconciliation Committee, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Culled from the Nation.