Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has been named as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation Committee.
He is on a familiar track as in the run off to the 2019 general election, the party appointed him as the chairman of the committee that reconciled aggrieved members of the party.
It was gathered that this was part of resolutions reached at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday.
The PDP NEC had at the meeting, amongst others, resolved to set up a committee to reconcile aggrieved members.
Also, in the aftermath of the NEC meeting, there were indications last night that former deputy national secretary of the party, Emmanuel Agbo, has been penciled down to replace CID Maduabum as director general of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
Agbo, alongside five others, had indicated interest to replace Iyorchia Ayu, as national chairman of the party. However, the NEC put off deliberation on Ayu’s replacement until August.
The appointment of Agbo as DG PDP Governors Forum was part of measures to appease the North Central, which prior to yesterday’s NEC meeting had insisted it must produce the national chairman.
The former DG of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Maduabum is from the South-east zone
According to sources, ”The NEC appointed Saraki as Chairman of the Reconciliation Committee, Udom Emmanuel as Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, and PDP Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), as Chairman of the Constitution Amendment Committee.”
As at press time, it is not known those that would be referred before the Udom-led disciplinary committee.
A source said that all those that committed anti party activities during the 2023 presidential election would be directed to appear before the committee.
Specifically, a member of NEC, Sani Uba said that those planning to do anti party activities in 2027 would be asked to appear before the committee.
He explained that the past anti party activities should be seen as gone, but those who are still threatening to support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election should be made to face the disciplinary committee.
He was apparently referring to the former governor of Benue State, Samuel Orton, who openly said that he will support the 2027 second term of President Bola Tinubu.
Sani Uba said that such persons should not be allowed in the party, stressing this is one of the duties of the new disciplinary committee.
“You cannot be a member of the PDP and openly threaten to work against the party in 2027. This is not going to be tolerated,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Senator Dino Melaye, engaged in an altercation with former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, at the PDP North Central Zone leadership meeting on Wednesday.
In a post on his X handle, Melaye stated that the confrontation stemmed from Ortom’s declaration of support for President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2027 election.
Melaye wrote, “Why will Ortom attend a PDP meeting after declaring support for Tinubu in 2027. Hence, my altercation with him at the PDP North Central Zone leadership meeting.”
He also retweeted the video from the altercation posted by an X user, #iamhistory_, who stated that Melaye embarrassed Ortom at the meeting.
The caption read, “Senator Dino Melaye embarrassed former Governor Ortom of Benue State today.
“Melaye said he was shocked that Governor Ortom could feel comfortable sitting in a PDP meeting, walking in majestically after his anti-party activities.
“Dino said he is shameless and should be disciplined. Both of them shouted at each other. Ortom was shocked and lost. In the end, he spoke without replying Melaye.”
