By Chris Nomjov
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is allegedly plotting a sensational move to rebrand the party, by making subtle overtures, to bring back ex-governors and other party heavyweights who defected to the governing All Progressives Congress to the party.
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, members of the House of Representatives and others.
However, according to reports, none of the leaders or members 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 terms 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.”
