•Can Gov. MAKINDE Work With NYESOM WIKE?
Have you ever wondered why some PDP
chieftains have refused to dump the party despite all the challenges it is
facing? Have you wondered why the likes of former Senate President, Dr. Bukola
Saraki’s former Presidential aspirant Dr. Gbenga Hashim, Gov. Seyi Makinde,
Gbolarumi (former Deputy Governor), Engineer Deji Doherty and others have
stayed put in PDP? We can tell you.
It is because of the solid structures
that the PDP possess.
Many PDP leaders believe that the
party will soon bounce back. They believe that the APC will soon suffer an
implosion and many of those who left will run back. That is why over the last
few days a lot of the big names in the PDP have embacked on reconciliation of
the 2 main factions fighting for the soul of the party.
A presidential aspirant on the
platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has
intensified consultations within the party following a high level meeting with
the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, in what observers interpret as part of
ongoing realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dr. Hashim described the meeting as
productive and forward looking, noting that discussions centered on
strengthening unity within the PDP and positioning the party to play a more
decisive role in Nigeria’s multi party democratic system.
Sources familiar with the engagement
suggest that beyond the public message of unity, the talks also touched on
broader strategic concerns, including internal cohesion among key blocs,
leadership direction, and the need to consolidate influence across regions as
the party gradually builds momentum towards 2027.
Dr. Hashim commended Governor
Makinde’s commitment to the PDP and his role in supporting the survival and
growth of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
He emphasized that party unity remains
fundamental to the PDP’s ability to provide credible opposition and national
leadership, especially at a time when Nigeria’s democratic system requires
stability, inclusiveness, and institutional strength.
He also expressed confidence that
sustained dialogue among stakeholders would help bridge internal divides and
reposition the party for greater competitiveness in future elections.
Political watchers note that the
meeting is significant, given Gbenga Hashim’s growing influence within the PDP
and his perceived role as a stabilizing force among competing interests within
the party.
The development comes amid a series of
consultations and quiet engagements among PDP leaders aimed at redefining
alliances, strengthening party structures, and managing internal tensions ahead
of the next electoral cycle.
Analysts believe that such high level
interactions could shape the emerging power configuration within the PDP,
particularly as aspirants and stakeholders begin to test alliances, build
consensus, and project influence in the lead up to 2027.
While the official narrative
underscores unity and democratic strengthening, analysts say the underlying
dynamics point to a calculated effort to align interests, consolidate support
bases, and position key actors within Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
For reconciliation to begin in the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), chieftains should embrace the National
Caretaker Committee, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido said at the
weekend.
The caretaker committee, led by Alhaji
Abdulrahman Mohammed and backed by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister
Nyesom Wike, enjoys the recognition of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC).
Lamido, who was excluded from the
national chairmanship contest ahead of the now-voided national convention in
Ibadan, called for dialogue and compromise. He reflected on the protracted
crisis during a Ramadan Iftar with PDP officers in his hometown, Bamaina, in
Jigawa State.
Lamido, a one-time foreign affairs
minister and national secretary of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP)
during the aborted Third Republic, said: “If we do not unite and put our house
in order, the time constraints in the Electoral Act may prevent the party from
properly preparing for elections.”
According to the INEC timetable,
parties are to hold their primaries for elective positions between April 23 and
May 30. They are also expected to submit the electronic register of their
members to the electoral agency ahead of the primaries.
There is uncertainty over
reconciliation moves in the party due to the inability of the Wike/Anyanwu
group and the Turaki/Makinde faction to break the ice after the Court of Appeal
judgment that dismantled the illegal National Working Committee (NWC).
Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, says the
envisaged reconciliation would foster unity and reposition the party.
Urging party leaders to embrace the
caretaker committee, Lamido said the PDP needed a stabilising leadership
structure. He described Wike as a politically shrewd figure who took advantage
of the leadership vacuum after the expiration of the tenure of the National
Working Committee (NWC). The former governor said the absence of a stabilising
structure at the time led to the emergence of the caretaker committee.
Lamido said: “Wike is somebody who is
very, very shrewd. “I think he saw through the situation and was able to put in
place a caretaker committee. By the time the tenure of the existing NWC
elapsed, the only structure available was the one backed by him.”
Noting that many party members might
have reservations about Wike, he stressed that the current political reality
demands dialogue and compromise.
Lamido added: “Even though many of us
may not like him or we are fighting him politically, we must invite him in the
spirit of Nigeria, in the spirit of brotherhood and PDP sisterhood. We must
reconcile and move forward.”
He said the internal crisis and the
wave of defections were worrisome to loyal members, adding that the quick
resolution of the leadership tussle was critical to the survival of the party
and its future electoral prospects.
Lamido warned that prolonged internal
disputes could affect the party’s ability to meet the timelines stipulated in
electoral laws ahead of elections.
He said the holy month offered an
opportunity for reflection, forgiveness and reconciliation among party
stakeholders. Lamido emphasised that the PDP belongs to all its members,
stressing that it should not be seen as the property of any individual.
He said: “The PDP is a collective
institution. It made many of us who we are today. Therefore, we must give back
to the party by ensuring its survival and preserving its legacy.”
Lamido also traced the origin of the
crisis to disagreements among some governors and key actors within the party,
stressing that unity and inclusive leadership remain the only path to restoring
stability.
He urged party leaders to rise above
personal interests, reconcile their differences and work collectively to
reposition the party. Lamido added: “Our duty now is to protect the heritage of
the PDP and ensure the party continues to serve Nigerians.”
The caretaker committee, which
conducted congresses in some states recently is proceeding with preparations
for the national convention scheduled for March 28 and 29 in Abuja.
Sources said some party leaders were
pushing for the reconstitution of the caretaker committee and a change of the
convention date so that the Turaki faction could be accommodated.
Caretaker Committee Chairman Mohammed
clarified that although the Turaki group might be holding talks with the FCT
Minister, it was different from holding talks with the party.
He said: “We are yet to hear from
them. They promised to send a 10-man delegation and we are waiting to hear from
them so that we know how to move forward.
“But it is possible that they are
talking with the Minister. But you know that talking with the Minister is
different from talking to the National Caretaker Committee. We are also
conscious of the time available.”
On Lamido’s position on
reconciliation, Mohammed said: “Lamido is with the party and he is on the side
of what he believes is good and what he thinks should be done.
“Of course, it will be a great honour
for us to have a man like Sule Lamido working with us. But there is a
difference between supporting the Caretaker Committee and supporting the
party.”
Olawepo-Hashim said the reconciliation
efforts would restore and reposition the party as a force to reckon with during
the 2027 polls.
He spoke on the peace moves when PDP
Chairmen from the 62 wards, chairmen of the 6 Area Councils and members of the
FCT Working Committee, led by Chairman Alhaji Ismail Mohammed Dogara, paid him
a Thank-you visit at his office in Abuja.
He said: “We will unite the PDP; all
the factions have agreed to work together.” Hashim said Nigeria could regain
its economic strength if the country was guided by responsible and visionary
leadership.
He said Nigeria has the resources and
human capital needed to rebuild its economy, stressing that its present
challenges could be reversed with sound policies and purposeful leadership.
Olawepo-Hashim stressed that Nigeria once enjoyed a strong and vibrant economy
driven by transparency, discipline and productive policies. He added that
earlier generations of leaders laid foundations that allowed the country to
compete favourably with other emerging economies.
He also called on party officials to
strengthen mobilisation efforts, describing ward leaders as the “commanders” of
the party’s structure whose work is critical to electoral success.
The delegation said their visit was
also to appreciate Hashim’s consistent engagement with party members and to
encourage his continued involvement in efforts to strengthen the party ahead of
future elections.
Dogara commended Olawepo-Hashim for
maintaining close contact with party members at different levels.
He described the former presidential
candidate as a pan-Nigerian leader who regularly engages grassroots
stakeholders and carries them along in his political activities.
Dogara said the visit was to reaffirm
their solidarity with Hashim and encourage him to sustain his engagement with
party structures across the country.
He said: “Other presidential
candidates hardly sit down with ward chairmen. You can see how Dr Hashim has
humbled himself to engage with us at the grassroots.”
Dogara also expressed confidence in
the resilience of the party, saying that despite internal challenges, the PDP
still possesses a strong nationwide structure capable of winning future
elections.
The chieftains called for unity,
grassroots mobilisation and collective efforts to reposition the party ahead of
upcoming political contests.
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