PDP Crisis: Bukola Saraki Meets Governor Seyi Makinde, Hopes for Common Leadership Position
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki recently held a crucial meeting with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State amidst the ongoing leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This engagement is part of a series of efforts aimed at resolving internal conflicts and fostering unity among the party’s aggrieved members.
Saraki, who has been actively engaging with key party stakeholders, shared his optimism following the meeting. In a post on X, he expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for making time despite coinciding with the governor’s wife’s birthday, extending warm wishes to Her Excellency Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde.
“Thank you, Your Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, for making time to meet with us today—even though it coincided with your wife’s birthday. Warm wishes to Her Excellency Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde,” Saraki wrote. “Following today’s meeting, we remain cautiously optimistic as we forge ahead to secure a common position among the leadership of our great party.”
Saraki is currently in Oyo State alongside Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, continuing their committee’s efforts to mediate and reconcile differences within the PDP leadership.
Background of the PDP Crisis
The crisis within the PDP has its roots in disagreements over the party’s zoning formula, which began in 2022. A faction of party chieftains, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the influential G-5 group (which includes Governor Makinde), challenged the party’s zoning decision. They advocated for the presidential ticket to be zoned to the South, arguing that since the then National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, hailed from the North, the presidential candidacy should go to the Southern region.
However, the party leadership insisted on zoning the presidential ticket to the North, resulting in former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerging as the PDP’s presidential flag bearer. This decision deepened divisions within the party, with some members feeling marginalized and dissatisfied.
The Path Forward
The meeting between Saraki and Makinde signals a renewed commitment to dialogue and consensus-building within the PDP. As the party navigates the complexities of its internal dynamics, the hope is that key leaders will find common ground to strengthen party unity ahead of future elections.
With ongoing consultations and mediation efforts, Saraki and other party leaders aim to heal rifts and present a united front. Their success could be pivotal in restoring confidence among party members and supporters, ensuring the PDP remains a formidable force in Nigerian politics.
