The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche
Secondus, has invited presidential aspirants, Governors, Senators and
other leaders to a meeting on Monday in Abuja.
The meeting is coming amid plans by leaders of the Reformed-All Progressives Congress (R-APC) to defect to the PDP.
Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Governor Ahmed Makarfi;
ex-Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Kabiru Turaki(SAN); ex-Governors
Sule Lamido and Ibrahim Shekarau are some of the presidential aspirants
invited.
They will discuss terms for accepting R-APC leaders, like Senate
President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara
and others into the party.
Top on the agenda is the report of the ex-Governor Liyel Imoke
Contact and Mobilisation Committee, which has been negotiating with
R-APC and about 30 “minor” parties.
The notice of the meeting was conveyed to the critical stakeholders by the Party’s National Secretary, Umaru Tsauri.
It reads: “The National Chairman of our great party, the PDP, Prince
Uche Secondus, hereby invites all PDP presidential aspirants, all PDP
governors and former governors, PDP members of the National Assembly and
former members, all members of the BOT, members of PDP former ministers
forum and all state chairmen to a crucial meeting on Monday, 9th July,
2018 at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.”
Although the notice was silent on the agenda, a source in the
National Working Committee (NWC) told The Nation that the “meeting will
discuss the proposed defection of R-APC leaders and other bigwigs to
PDP; alliance talks from other parties and the way forward for PDP in
2019.
“We will specifically look into the report and recommendations of
ex-Governor Liyel Imoke Contact and Mobilisation Committee which had
been holding talks with likely defectors and our leaders in some
affected states.
“Certainly, we will also consider the offers from Saraki, Tambuwal,
Kwankwaso and others who are interested in returning to PDP with a
desire to contest for the presidential ticket.
“Do not forget that there are some knotty issues in the report which
have not been clearly defined. This is what is delaying the expected
mass defection to PDP.”