PDP Crisis: Wike, Governors’ Camps Meet Monday to Harmonise Peace Terms

…As Joint reconciliation panel expected to review conditions from both factions as party seeks end to lingering leadership dispute

Camps loyal to Nyesom Wike and PDP governors hold crucial reconciliation talks to harmonise conditions and resolve the party’s lingering leadership crisis.

The members of the reconciliation committee from the camps of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Peoples Democratic Party governors are expected to meet on Monday as the joint panel prepares to harmonise conditions for resolving the lingering crisis within the party.

A high-ranking PDP leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, disclosed this to Sunday PUNCH.

Similarly, the governors’ camp, Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee and the National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, confirmed that the reconciliation panel would meet to address the issues.

The National Secretary of the Wike-backed National Caretaker Committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, expressed confidence that the party would soon recover from its internal challenges.

Against this backdrop, the governors’ camp, alongside the Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees and the Wike-aligned Caretaker Committee, signalled their readiness for genuine reconciliation.

A source also disclosed that the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who had earlier opposed the reconciliation move, is now open to the process.

According to the source, a committee comprising members and legal representatives from both camps held a meeting on Friday.

The source stated, “They had their first meeting on Friday. You know, the Bauchi State Governor, who earlier declined the idea of reconciliation with the Wike group, is now open to reconciliation.

As a matter of fact, he has held discussions and had phone conversations with stakeholders from both camps.

Both camps have nominated members of the reconciliation committee—about six representatives from each side, including legal practitioners.

They held a meeting on Friday, which centred on identifying areas and issues for reconciliation.

During the meeting, they agreed that members of both factions should return to their respective groups to harmonise the issues within their camps.

“They are expected to itemise their concerns and conditions and bring them forward so that the entire committee can review and harmonise them.

The idea is for each representative to return to their caucus or camp, listen to their members, identify their conditions, and list those that are realistic and workable.”

Another source disclosed that no decision had yet been made on whether the process would be resolved through a convention or an interim caretaker committee.

He stated, “Both camps are expected to meet again on Monday to review all the conditions and try as much as possible to reach a common ground and harmonise them, with the aim of resolving the crisis as soon as possible. That is the stage we are at now.

Hopefully, by Monday, the committee will meet again to harmonise the conditions, after which there may be a clearer direction for everyone.

“For now, no decision has not been made on who will become chairman or whether the party will proceed with a convention or set up a caretaker committee.

While some stakeholders are pushing for a convention, others are advocating an interim caretaker committee. All these issues are expected to become clearer by Monday or as soon as the committee reviews and harmonises the conditions submitted by both camps.”