PDP Governors Forum Chairman Meets with Former President Obasanjo Amid Party Friction

Strategic Insights -

As the 2023 general elections approach, tensions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have come to a head. Recently, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Abeokuta home, amidst growing friction within the party. The meeting comes as Governor Nyesom Wike continues to express discontent over being bypassed for the presidential running mate slot by Atiku Abubakar, the PDP candidate.

Key Takeaways:

  • Aminu Tambuwal, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Sokoto State governor, met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Abeokuta home to discuss "issues of national importance."
  • The meeting is seen as an attempt to resolve the growing friction within the party, particularly over Governor Nyesom Wike's exclusion from the presidential running mate slot.
  • Atiku Abubakar's choice of Delta State governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for the running mate slot has been met with resistance from some party leaders, including Governor Wike.
  • Reconciliatory moves are ongoing despite Wike's accusations against Atiku in an interview with Arise TV, where he claimed that the party's efforts to resolve the issue were a lie.
  • The Abuja meeting held behind closed doors at the Rivers State Governors Lodge and was attended by several PDP governors and party members, including Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state and former governor of Cross River State Donald Duke.
  • The meeting aimed to unify the party ahead of the 2023 general elections and discussed the party's next line of action following the primaries.

Statistics:

  • 5 PDP governors attended the Abuja meeting, including Governor Nyesom Wike, state governors from Oyo, Abia, Benue, and Enugu.
  • 13 party members and leaders attended the meeting, including former governor of Cross River State Donald Duke and former governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswam.
  • 1 meeting was held with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, held at his Abeokuta home, lasting over an hour.

Sources:

  • (Source not explicitly mentioned in the original text)