In a renewed bid to strengthen internal cohesion and reassert its relevance on the national political stage, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has named former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as the head of a seven-member reconciliation committee. This strategic committee is expected to calm tensions and unify aggrieved factions within the party ahead of the all-important National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting slated for May 27 and the party’s national convention scheduled for August.
The announcement followed a closed-door meeting held in Abuja, which brought together serving PDP governors, former governors, and senior party leaders. According to party insiders, the consensus to appoint Saraki—widely seen as a bridge-builder and experienced negotiator—was unanimous, reflecting a desire for a steady hand to steer the reconciliation process during this delicate period.
Joining Saraki on the committee are Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, and Peter Mbah of Enugu, as well as former Governors Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia). Each member brings regional balance and political clout, a calculated move to ensure widespread buy-in from various power blocs within the party.
The committee’s primary task is to engage discontented stakeholders, resolve long-standing disputes, and prepare the party for a united front at the forthcoming convention, where leadership positions and strategic directions for 2027 will likely be discussed.
With internal wrangling and court-induced leadership tussles having weakened the PDP’s public image in recent years, this reconciliation effort is seen as critical to its survival as Nigeria’s leading opposition party. Analysts say Saraki’s leadership could prove decisive in rebuilding the party’s fractured base and restoring confidence ahead of the next electoral cycle.