Lamido: Wike-backed caretaker holds key to PDP reconciliation

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.”

Uncertainty over reconciliation

A cloud of uncertainty is hanging over reconciliation as both camps expressed divergent views.

But the caretaker committee, which conducted congresses in some states at the weekend, 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.

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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.”

However, Ememobong said talks between the two camps were being held behind closed doors and out of the public glare.

He also said the two camps were aware of the time constraints and were working towards an amicable resolution of the issues.

Ememobong assured that very soon they would arrive at a consensus acceptable to both parties.

He said they had decided to keep the names of members of the reconciliation committee and their activities private in the interest of the issues to be discussed and the party.

Reconciliation will reposition party, says Hashim

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 six 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.

According to him, the highlight of Nigeria’s economic prosperity was in 1966 when Nigeria’s GDP doubled Malaysia’s and was bigger than Indonesia’s, and in 1976 when Nigeria’s per capita income tripled that of China.

He cited the industrial growth of the North and other regions during the First Republic as an example of what visionary leadership could achieve, recalling that policies introduced under the late Northern Premier, Ahmadu Bello, transformed Kaduna into a thriving textile hub that employed thousands of workers.

He said the experience demonstrates that Nigeria still has the capacity to rebuild its industrial base, revive manufacturing and create large-scale employment for its growing population.

Expressing optimism that economic revival remains achievable, he said: “Poverty, disease, ignorance and unemployment are not normal conditions for Nigeria because this country has prospered before.”

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.

Wike camp defies Bala Mohammed

The PDP faction in Bauchi State loyal to Wike elected Ibrahim Kassim Toro as the state chairman.

The weekend state congress produced a new state executive committee through consensus, according to a statement by Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the outgoing party chairman.

He said the exercise was monitored by INEC officials.

Mohammed said stakeholders and aspirants agreed to adopt consensus in selecting members of the new executive committee.

He thanked the people of Bauchi State and the party’s national leadership for the opportunity to serve as caretaker chairman, adding that his tenure ended with the emergence of the new leadership.

Mohammed, who said the congress was orderly and peaceful, commended INEC officials and security agencies.

The congress elected Barrister Bashir Tahir Misau as deputy chairman. Others elected are Nazif Sabo Likita Jama’are, secretary; Muktar Abdullahi Milo Udubo, vice chairman (North); Abdullahi Hassan Ningi, vice chairman (Central); Abdullahi Muhammad Barau, vice chairman (South); and Umar Abdulkadir Sarki, organising secretary.

Other officers are Godfrey Mannasseh Marti, publicity secretary; Isa Umar Kakara Zaki, treasurer; Zulaihat Mallam, women leader; Haruna Yakubu Jagaban Dass, auditor; Hamza Abubakar Giade, financial secretary; Abdullahi Abdulkareem Mai Kare, youth leader; and Yahaya Garkuwa, legal adviser.