There may be end in sight to the crisis rocking People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as its Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, have agreed on a framework for the resolution of the differences between them.
The duo reportedly reached the agreement, on Thursday, at a meeting, in Abuja, held at the residence of a former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Prof. Jerry Gana.
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It was the first time the two leaders would be meeting since Atiku overlooked Governor Wike and named Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate for the February 2023 presidential election.
Governor Okowa’s nomination was believed to have infuriated Governor Wike who had been at the top of three names recommended by a committee that the candidate and the PDP set up for advice on the choice of the running mate.
The issue has led to a crisis in the party, with other stakeholders also complaining that the leadership of the party is lopsided in favour of the North.
At a meeting he hosted last Sunday in Abuja, Governor Wike and his allies demanded the resignation of the national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, as part of their conditions for reconciliation with Atiku.
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But at a meeting, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party passed a vote of confidence on Dr. Ayu while the Board of Trustees set up a committee to meet with Governor Wike and his allies.
However, at the meeting facilitated by Prof. Gana, the two leaders agreed to set a committee within 48 hours that would draw up a framework for reconciliation of their differences.
Atiku and Wike agreed to nominate seven persons each for the committee, which will look at all the issues raised by Governor Wike’s group and advise the two leaders on how to address them.