Feelers from the two factional leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, indicate that peaceful reconciliation of the warring factions of the PDP led by Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Kabiru Turaki that met with INEC this Friday may still be far from attainment.
Hanto Daily News reports that words from both sides that addressed the media after their meeting with the electoral umpire at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at its national headquarters in Abuja show that no serious agreement was eventually reached.
Addressing Newsmen, the newly elected National Chairman of the PDP from the Oyo convention, Kabiru Turaki, revealed that they were only invited last night by the Commission to attend the meeting this morning whose agenda they didn’t know.
According to him, “when we received the invite, we thought that it was in respect of an earlier request. When we arrived this morning, however, we discovered that some former members of our party, who had earlier been expelled, were also invited.
“ So, we have spoken with him from our own perspective. We’ve made a presentation of what we think the issues are.
“And INEC had said, even though that there are matters that are before the Court of Appeal, and matters have not been heard, and INEC cannot take the place of a Court of competent jurisdiction, but that they will look into what we have said very seriously.”
Answering questions on the faction recognised by INEC, Turaki said, “Where elders, for instance, sit down to settle a land dispute between brothers or between people who are laying different claims to that land, certainly elders will know that one of those people is a legitimate owner, and the other person may be claiming to be the owner.
“But at the end of the day, everybody will be heard by the elders. So that at the end of the day, nobody will say that elders came, they spoke to us, but I have not been given the opportunity of a hearing.
“So I think what they have done, is in the spirit of wanting to reconcile. I think it’s something that was proper.
Speaking, the factional national Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu described the INEC boss as a man who has been blessed by God with wisdom for calling the meeting, adding that the way they were addressed by the electoral umpire shows that INEC really wants the PDP to continue to strive as the major opposition party in Nigeria.
“So they, INEC, are looking at the issues and options of how to bring peace for us. So we are yet to get a decision of NEC on the matter, but both sides spoke,” Anyanwu said.
He added that both sides were able to punch up the loopholes where the problem is coming from, adding that “It has to do with grief, aggression and ego of some people. As a matter of fact, as a responsible party, we believe in the rule of law, the electoral guidelines and the NEC guidelines.
“Yes, we all, Nigerians know that PDP has a mechanism of managing internal crisis. And that is what we are doing now. And I can tell you, we will come out strong and stronger.”
Recall, INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, had during the meeting he summoned to discuss with leadership of the two factions said the meeting was a way of seeking a solution to the lingering crisis rocking the party.
