Gladiators in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership crisis have begun fresh moves to resolve the dispute that has divided the opposition party since November last year.
Sources within the party revealed that both camps reopened dialogue on Tuesday night in a renewed effort to restore unity ahead of the party’s planned national convention.
The development comes amid growing concerns that the prolonged leadership tussle could weaken the party ahead of future elections.
Investigations showed that the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) have commenced fresh reconciliation talks.
The Turaki-led NWC enjoys the backing of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, while the caretaker committee is supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The crisis deepened after the PDP national convention held in Ibadan last November, where a new NWC led by Turaki was elected.
However, loyalists of Wike rejected the outcome and subsequently constituted a 13-member caretaker committee headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed to oversee the party pending another convention.
The leadership crisis was further complicated by judicial interventions.
On March 9, the Court of Appeal in Abuja nullified the Ibadan convention and upheld the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had ordered the PDP not to proceed with the exercise.
Similarly, the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, while ruling on another appeal related to the caretaker committee, advised parties involved in the dispute to pursue an amicable settlement.
Following an expanded meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees, its Chairman Adolphus Wabara said party leaders were open to resolving the dispute outside the courts.
Despite calls for reconciliation, the caretaker committee maintained that preparations for its proposed national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30 remain on course.
The position has contributed to lingering disagreements between both camps, with each side blaming the other for the stalled reconciliation efforts.
Multiple sources within the PDP confirmed that both camps have now reopened discussions aimed at ending the crisis.
A source told Daily Sun that the two sides agreed to establish a team that would address all contentious issues without involving intermediaries.
According to the source, the decision to negotiate directly followed concerns that some party leaders initially expected to facilitate reconciliation were instead worsening the situation.
Another party insider disclosed that the renewed peace effort followed direct communication between Wike and Governor Bala Mohammed, with both leaders expected to meet to discuss possible solutions.
“Yes, it is correct. Both groups have started talking. Bala has reached out to the FCT minister and they will meet today to discuss how to resolve the contentious issues,” the source said.
Turaki confirms renewed reconciliation efforts
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Turaki confirmed that fresh peace discussions had begun and called on supporters to avoid actions that could undermine the process.
“I can unequivocally confirm that, as of today, leaders on both sides have broken the ice and are exploring various pathways towards a lasting resolution,” he said.
He urged party supporters to tone down inflammatory statements to allow the peace process to succeed.
Turaki said his faction was willing to make concessions in order to restore unity within the party.
“We have hope and confidence that we can still work together. In life there are times to fight and there are times to make peace. If you have a pathway to winning the peace without necessarily going to war, why not take peace and forgo the war?” he said.
He added that some individuals within the party were deliberately working against reconciliation but insisted that those elements had now been identified.
Turaki also disclosed that both camps were prepared to withdraw all ongoing legal cases once a political settlement was reached.
“As I speak, there are cases filed by both parties, including appeals at the Court of Appeal. The best judges usually advise parties to explore out-of-court settlements whenever possible,” he said.
