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AS the search for the next National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues, some prominent members of the party are moving to convince former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, to contest the party’s chairmanship.
NaijaTimes gathered that some governors and senators in the party are already making overtures to the one time governor of Kwara State to take the lead in re-positioning the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It was also gathered that the visit of Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to Saraki’s house located at Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama, Abuja and a return visit by Saraki to Wike’s residence during the week may not be unconnected with the plan to convince Saraki to lead the party.
The social media went abuzz on Tuesday after Saraki, visited Wike at his Abuja residence, and the minister entertained Saraki and his entourage with his culinary skills, as he was seen in the kitchen showing his ability to welcome the former Senate President.
Although Saraki’s media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, has described the visit as a ‘friendly visit”.
It was also learnt that the issue about who would succeed the Acting of the party, Umar Damagum was part of reason Wike who is serving in the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government visited Saraki, as he and other members of the G-5 are not planning to leave the PDP, but prefer to work with other members to make the party strong again.
A high-ranking member of the PDP National Working Committee said: “Wike’s group has declared that they will not leave the party, rather they would work to retain their influence in the party. And one of the ways to do this is to be part of the power groups that will determine the future of the party by influencing who leads the party from next year.”
“Since the train, which is working to elect Saraki is moving fast and getting more passengers on board, they need to quickly jump on it and be part of the forces that will propel the train to a successful destination.
“Failure to do this will lead to the emergence of a hostile chairman who may move against them. They know Saraki as a bridge builder, who has the capacity to bring all warring groups together. They also see him as somebody they can trust to be neutral aside from having the capacity and resources to rebuild the party,” the source who preferred anonymity added.
He continued, “We are aware that the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku, and a few party leaders are discussing the person that will succeed the Damagum. In recent times, I am aware that the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and some of these leaders have settled for Saraki because they believed he had the charisma and the political will to reposition the party. So, discussion is ongoing within party stakeholders.”
The source also disclosed that notwithstanding the pressure on Saraki to begin moves to lead the party, he is yet to make up his mind, imploring party faithful pushing the agenda to wait till after the verdict of the Supreme Court on the presidential election.
However, some members of the party are said to have agreed that either way the case goes, the next assignment is for PDP to resolve its leadership crisis and promote genuine reconciliation.
“Once the Supreme Court rules on the presidential election matter between now and November, the leaders will come out open and things will pick up,” the source stated.
Recall that both Saraki and Wike contested the PDP presidential primary, but lost to the former Vice President. While Saraki was appointed to the PDP/Atiku’s campaign team, Wike and his G5 governors worked against the interest of Atiku and the party in the 2023 presidential election.
As compensation for a job well done, Wike was appointed as Minister by Tinubu, and seconded to the Federal Capital Territory, which many believe is a juicy portfolio.
