The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a reconciliation committee chaired by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to engage with aggrieved members ahead of its forthcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

This was disclosed on Sunday night following a strategy meeting held at the Abuja residence of Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, also attended but declined to address journalists.

Present at the meeting were several PDP governors, including Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Peter Mbah (Enugu).

Also in attendance were former governors: Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Achike Udenwa (Imo), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), and Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), as well as former Benue governor Samuel Ortom.

Other attendees included PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, former Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi, and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Speaking after the meeting, Governor Mohammed said the gathering was part of efforts to ensure a peaceful NEC session later this month and a successful national convention later in the year. He noted that the former governors were invited to lend their experience in resolving internal party disputes.

Reacting to recent defections, particularly in Delta State, Mohammed said such developments would ultimately strengthen the PDP. He added that the party was actively strategising to reclaim states currently led by opposition parties.

Concerns have been raised over the recent defection of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and his cabinet to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The party has faced internal turmoil since the 2023 general elections, exacerbated by the rift between former Rivers State governor, Wike, and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Despite several interventions by the party’s leadership bodies – the NWC, Board of Trustees (BoT), NEC, and the PDP Governors’ Forum – the crisis remains unresolved.

On 23 April, Oborevwori, along with former Delta governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other senior officials, joined the APC. Similarly, three senators from Kebbi State – Adamu Aliero (Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (North), and Garba Maidoki (South) – defected after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

Many opposition leaders have condemned the defections, describing them as part of a wider plot to transform Nigeria into a de facto one-party state.