PDP crisis: Mu'azu meets with PDP governors, senators

(Nigeria) The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, has pledged that the party's consultative forum will henceforth be a regular feature.

He said during the party's caucus meeting in Abuja on Wednesday at the residence of Senate President David Mark, that the forum would  enable members to "touch base and interact with one another".

He said, before the meeting went into closed door, that he summoned the interaction to consult with governors and senators who were major stakeholders of the party.

Mu'azu said the consultation was aimed at finding common ground to resolve the plethora of crises bedevilling the PDP.

He expressed concern about the difficulties executive bills often suffered at the National Assembly.

 "There is no reason why executive bills cannot be discussed with the PDP lawmakers before they are introduced on the floor of the house, so that such bills will enjoy smooth sail.

"If we do not continue to consult with one another, we will continue to disagree with one another," he said.

Speaking on behalf of the senators, the Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, pledged the loyalty of the lawmakers to the new chairman of the party.

"I pledge that in us, the PDP Senate Caucus, you will find very loyal party men and women. We will work with you. We will stay by you. We will partner with you to reinvent PDP,’’ he said.

He, however said that the PDP was going through crisis.

"The good news is that the challenges are about to end while those of the other parties are about to begin."

Ndoma-Egba said the meeting would afford the PDP leaders opportunity to share ideas and nip problems in the bud before they blossomed.

"PDP is as strong as it has always been and will be stronger," he added.

PDP governors who attended the meeting included Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Theodore Orji (Abia) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).

Others are Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Idris Wada (Kogi), Ramallan Yero (Kaduna), Acting Governor of Taraba State,  Alhaji Garba Umar.

The Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Muktari Shagari and the Deputy Governor of Jigawa, Ahaji Ahmed Mahmoud were also in attendance.

Members of the National Working Committee, NWC of the PDP who accompanied Mu'azu to the meeting included the Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus and the National Secretary, Wale Oladipo.

Others are National Woman Leader, Mrs Kema Chikwe and the National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, among others.

Akpabio, in his remarks on behalf of the governors, described the meeting as a special one.

"It is an uncommon gathering in an uncommon period in the history of this uncommon party, which is facing uncommon challenges and seeking uncommon solutions."

He pledged that the PDP governors would continue to support Mu'azu, adding that they were ready to do everything legally possible to reposition the PDP and ensure victory in 2015.

Akpabio also pledge the readiness of the governors to increase the number of states controlled by PDP, irrespective of the few governors of the party that had defected to the APC.

"Our meeting today is to strengthen you (Mu'azu) and to assure you that you are not alone.

``Whatever the outcome of this meeting, the governors will ensure its full implementation," Akpabio said.