NewStats: 3,261,373 , 8,173,818 topics. Date: Thursday, 29 May 2025 at 03:41 AM 3y6k23

Abandoned by its founding fathers, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) is in talks with some of its former governors and other chieftains who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC).

The secret talks are part of the strategies to rebrand and reposition of the party ahead of the 2019 polls.

Some of the negotiations took place abroad to avoid the prying eyes of security agencies on the realignment of political forces.

Among those being targeted by PDP are ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Senate President Bukola Saraki; ex-governors Rabiu Kwankwaso, Danjuma Goje, Aliyu Wammako, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, several APC Senators, of the House of Representatives and others.

Sources in the know of the talks told The Nation last night that none of the leaders or of the National Assembly has yet agreed to the overtures.

It was gathered that the PDP leadership is desperate to have the ex-governors and defectors back in the fold and has resorted to tracking the movement of the targeted APC leaders abroad for further talks.

The party is said to be focusing on the North-East, North-West and North-Central even as it does not want to lose its grip on the South-South and South-East.

It is also said to be weighing the option of conceding the party’s presidential ticket to the North-East in 2019.

“We are determined to bring back our top leaders who defected to APC. We want to heal wounds, we are already reaching out to some of these ex-governors and leaders,” a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) said.

“So far, none of them has made any commitment. Some of them have become disenchanted with PDP to the extent that they don’t want to hear the name of this party again.

“Others are demanding reforms in PDP before they can even contemplate thinking about their return to our party.

“We are leaving all options open and we are reaching out to top leaders, ex-governors and the grassroots. We will return PDP to its original ideals.”

It was learnt that the absence of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida; ex-Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma; ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo and influential party leaders from the North at the party’s National Conference on Thursday jolted the NWC and left them with the impression that North is not about to forgive the party yet.

Another source said: “I think the challenge facing PDP now is that Southern elements have hijacked the structure of the party and no one is happy about it.

“Certainly, they must restructure the party to create a sense of belonging for all. So far, what we see is the same South-South and South-East elements trying to play on the intelligence of the North again.

“Let them come up with which will guarantee fairness and Justice for all. For instance, why will PDP not respect its zoning formula on party offices?

“Why can’t an acting National Chairman emerge from the North-East to which it was originally zoned?

“If PDP is seeking equity, it must do so with clean hands.”

Already, a fresh crisis is brewing in the party over the choice of its next National Chairman in March.

Investigation revealed that ex-Governor Ayo Fayose is spearheading the zoning of the office to the South-West.

Fayose’s argument is that of all the six geo-political zones only the Southwest is yet to produce PDP National Chairman.

Former national chairmen of PDP were: Chief Solomon Lar(North-Central); Barnabas Gemade( North Central); Audu Ogbeh( North-Central); Ahmadu Ali ( North-Central); Vincent Ogbulafor ( South East); Abubakar Kawu Baraje( North-Central); and Okwesileze Nwodo(North-East); Mohammed Bello Haliru( North-West); Bamanga Tukur(North-East) and Adamu Muazu( North-East).

A party leader said: “The governor also believes that the South-East and the South-South have had more than their share of the office of the National chairman.

“But some party leaders are still pushing for the retention of Prince Uche Secondus as the party’s National Chairman to assuage the South-South which lost the presidency in March.

“Again, we have some NWC who have done no other job since 1999 other than holding party offices. Yet, these people have fueled the successive crises in the party.

“This same NWC ed for PDP’s defeat at the polls. Why must we retain them in March 2016? These are the issues for consideration by leaders of the party in our repositioning process.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/pdp-in-secret-talks-with-ex-govs-defectors-to-apc/

lalasticlala

Not news worthy, PDP is already dead and buried... We need other viable parties.. I need to even go and kowa party. Seems they will be a force to reckon with in 2019

I haff year!

What is a pdp?

They miss it already, name change may do the magic but I dint guarantee that...Politicians Deceiving People

K

dre11:



http://thenationonlineng.net/pdp-in-secret-talks-with-ex-govs-defectors-to-apc/

Just that I don't trust nation newspaper but,make I comment sha...a good political analyst does not need a prophet to tell him that there are things going on between some APC men and PDP,if you are in doubt,then think back how saraki and godara emerged with the of PDP men in the house and senate against (APC) party directive? 2019 is gonna be interesting cos I see PDP taking back what they gave APC

Even in Cross River, Ayade's body language tells me that he is considering dumpin PDP.

l thought PDP did tell those defectors to go to hell if they weren't satisfy with what was happening in the party as of that time......








they made their life hell especially those 5 defected governors

Bloody Lying Propaganda from the Killer Party. If this lame insinuations is all PDP have to dish out, then their healing process will take 30 yrs.

rip pdp! Already regretting what made them loose the lion of africa! General of common sense revolution! Just amaechi loose it making wailers wail as if the pdp doesnt have 4pdp govs in ss. Then i ask while wail 4 him if his impact was suppose to be inconsequential

the rejected stones..... they are now wooing them to be the corner stone of the party





I thought they can do without them
sinking ship

They should continue appeasing the North as if they are the only region born to rule. Instead of resetting the system they are still running to the North, what happened to backing the South East and the Igbos who have not seen either the President or Vice President role. PDP getting it wrong since 1782

RIP PDP

Anyone festering himself with the sole campaign of rebranding and repackaging the PDP, for his own selfish interest will be utterly disappointed, come 2018. The real major players and influential shareholders of the party, will wait till the appropriate time to come back in the fold and steer the party back into winning ways. Chief Dokpesi is merely wasting his time and his resources, for the PDP, no matter the condition it finds itself, is too cumbersome and complex to be hijacked by anyone or any cabal. GEJ, will resume party activities when he feels the time is right, anything before that is DOA. My sources denote, that in 2019 Ngozi Okonji Iweala will run for President on the platform of the PDP, and on May 28 2019, will take up office as the first elected female President of Nigeria. NOI 2019.

PHLastborn:
They should continue appeasing the North as if they are the only region born to rule. Instead of resetting the system they are still running to the North, what happened to backing the South East and the Igbos who have not seen either the President or Vice President role. PDP getting it wrong since 1782

And u fink northerners will vote for Igbo?

This is trash.It is not newsworthy.

Don't forget to pray for victims of terror.

mazzi:
Just that I don't trust nation newspaper but,make I comment sha...a good political analyst does not need a prophet to tell him that there are things going on between some APC men and PDP,if you are in doubt,then think back how saraki and godara emerged with the of PDP men in the house and senate against (APC) party directive? 2019 is gonna be interesting cos I see PDP taking back what they gave APC

.....Dnt gat it twisted,no body can defeat PMB in the north if he decide to contest again.Am nt seeing them (PDP) to win at least 2 states in SW.

APC is ruling party and they will play what it takes to win the election again.If u doubt me,let wait and see.......

PDP going back to eat their vomit. Abeg after God, fear Politicians!

Hypocrites can go back to the already-dead party.. We dont care. I just want them to do quick and reposition before 2023 cos 2019 is not for them.

palladin:
What is a pdp?

PEOPLE DECIEVING PEOPLE

anigbajumo:



And u fink northerners will vote for Igbo?

Except you want to tell me that after Buhari's tenure they would want to vote for another Northerner again for the Presidency, PDP should understand that Nigerians are swayed and they are sympathetic, bring an Igbo man, Nigerians will see your logic and would sympathetically vote for that Igbo man. Whether the North likes it or not, an Igbo President will sell more than a President from another region, especially in this period of Biafra agitation

1

PHLastborn:


Except you want to tell me that after Buhari's tenure they would want to vote for another Northerner again for the Presidency, PDP should understand that Nigerians are swayed and they are sympathetic, bring an Igbo man, Nigerians will see your logic and would sympathetically vote for that Igbo man. Whether the North likes it or not, an Igbo President will sell more than a President from another region, especor]ially in this period of Biafra agitation

Shout here till eternity,northerners will never vote for Igbo wen PMB is on ground to vote for.


Even in SW,they (ndigbo) will not gat 40% vote wen PYO and fashola they lead crucial role in the present government.

Now that's more like it... although I don't do THE NATION!

PHLastborn:


Except you want to tell me that after Buhari's tenure they would want to vote for another Northerner again for the Presidency, PDP should understand that Nigerians are swayed and they are sympathetic, bring an Igbo man, Nigerians will see your logic and would sympathetically vote for that Igbo man. Whether the North likes it or not, an Igbo President will sell more than a President from another region, especially in this period of Biafra agitation

That is the more reason an Igbo presidency will never see the light of the day in Nigeria. So you better keep agitating for your Biafra. No body will vote for a separatist.

Investigation revealed that ex-Governor Ayo Fayose is spearheading the zoning of the office to the South-West.

Is Fayose an ex-governor?

tobimillar:
Not news worthy, PDP is already dead and buried... We need other viable parties.. I need to even go and kowa party. Seems they will be a force to reckon with in 2019

kowa too small, hope democratic party for even better.

if only PDP can employ me to become her chief reformer.

I have bsc in political science
masters in strategic studies
and PhD in political economy and istration

(all in my dreams)

I m currently a jambito, can they wait for me to achieve all this in order to resurrect the party.

Nothing wrong with that. Just as Apc talked to Pdp , that is how politics is played engage your opponent with superior argument.

APC dying already after 6months in power? How many people would be left in APC if former returned to PDP?