PDP crisis: Obasanjo, Ekwueme, Lar billed to meet 23 govs today

As part of the efforts to restore peace to the troubled Peoples Democratic Party continue, the meeting between elders of the party and governors elected on the platform of the party will on Friday (today) continue in Abuja.

About 23 governors elected on the platform of PDP are expected in the  meeting, which is holding in the instance of former President, Chief  Olusegun Obasanjo.

The festering crisis in the party took a new twist last Saturday when a clique in the party broke a way to form a rival faction called New PDP.

Six PDP governors, including the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi,  are party of the splinter group.

The  governors are Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Aliyu Babangida (Niger); Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara);  Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); and Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano).

They named a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, as the leader of the faction. An ex- National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Mohammed Bugaje,  was appointed the national chairman;  Dr. Sam Jaja, deputy national chairman;  and Prince Olagunsoye, national secretary.

Jolted by the development, President Goodluck Jonathan initiated a series of reconciliatory meetings, first with Obasanjo and then the PDP governors.

The meeting Jonathan held with the governors did not reach any conclusion as it was postponed till next Tuesday to enable the parties to consult more on the crisis.

Obasanjo, who had earlier appealed to the  parties  to maintain the peace, said elders of the PDP would meet on Friday(today)  to mediate in the crisis.

Expected at the meeting that will take place in the Presidential Villa, Abuja,  are former a Vice-President, Dr.  Alex Ekwueme, a former National Chairman of the party, Chief Solomon Lar; and ex-Military President Ibrahim Babangida.

Some other people considered to be founding members  of the party like the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, are  also expected to be in attendance.