The national reconciliation committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is making intensive efforts to bring back some of its former bigwigs who have pitched their tents with the main opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC).
Some of the former members being targeted include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Kano state Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
National Secretary of the Party, Prof. Wale Oladipo hinted to journalists at Ile-Ife, Osun State that the party has begun the reconciliation process and has reached out to many of its aggrieved members.
According to him, the party’s reconciliation committee recently set up by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party will meet with all the former members of the party in the APC and other political parties before February to ensure that the PDP wins in all parts of Nigeria.
If successful in its bid, Oladipupo noted that it would enhance the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan in the February Presidential election, as well as other elections.
“We are reaching out to our former members particularly those who left the party for the opposition to pursue their presidential ambitions but were humiliated. People like Atiku and Kwankwanso are definitely on their way back to PDP,” he said.
While hopes are high in the PDP of a possible return of the party members who have joined the opposition, politicians like Atiku and Kwankwaso, who both contested at the APC presidential primaries last year may be impossible to win back. This is largely due to the way the APC has ensured that none of the aspirants had any reservations about the conduct of the primaries. Following Gen Muhammadu Buhari’s victory, Atiku had congratulated the former head of state and promised his full support.
The APC seem to have also foreseen the reconciliation steps now being taken by the PDP. The party made all presidential aspirants sign to remain with the opposition no matter the outcome of the presidential primaries. While there may not be any legal backing to the documents signed, it is a unlikely any of Atiku and Kwankwaso would leave, on moral grounds.
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