PDP remains Africa’s biggest political party, says Turaki

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that it remains Africa’s biggest party as it declared itself repositioned and ready to reclaim power nationwide following a high-level meeting with former vice president, Arc. Namadi Sambo.

Kabiru Turaki, factional national chairman of the PDP, spoke with journalists on Tuesday evening in Abuja after the meeting.

Turaki said Sambo reaffirmed his continued membership of, and support for, the party while offering strategic guidance on unity, legality and electoral competitiveness ahead of forthcoming elections.

Those present at the meeting included members of the Board of Trustees, the National Working Committee, founding leaders of the party, members of the National aAssembly, state chairmen, former ministers, former governors, former lawmakers and other stakeholders from across the country.

The PDP chairman said the delegation briefed Sambo on opportunities before the party and challenges encountered since the emergence of the current leadership at the Ibadan convention.

He said, “His Excellency generously offered advice and guidance on the way forward in repositioning the party to once again become a veritable winning platform for Nigerians.”

Turaki added, “Most importantly, he assured us that he remains, and will continue to remain, a member of the PDP.”

He said Sambo also promised to play a more active role in the party’s affairs.

“He further assured us that he would soon become more active than before and that whenever there is any issue requiring attention, we should not hesitate to reach out to him,” Turaki said.

The PDP chairman said the reassurance of the party’s founding leaders was encouraging.

“So, we will continue to assure Nigerians, and members of the PDP across the country, that theirs remains the biggest party in Africa,” he said.

Turaki added, “The PDP is on the move again, and very soon we shall return to our winning days.”

He said the party was positioning itself to win forthcoming elections, beginning with the FCT area council elections as well as the Ekiti and Osun off-season polls.

“We are positioning the party to win forthcoming elections, beginning with the FCT Area Council elections, as well as the Ekiti and Osun off-season elections; we are on course,” he said.

Reacting to the dismissal of a suit involving a caretaker committee backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory, Turaki said the judgment vindicated the party’s position.

“The judgment is a vindication for us in the PDP,” he said.

He added, “We have consistently maintained that the decision of the supreme court is sacrosanct and that courts have no business meddling in internal party matters.”

Turaki said the ruling affirmed the legitimacy of the party’s leadership elected at the Ibadan convention.

“The judgment of Justice Umar today affirms that we are the legitimate leaders of the PDP and that our convention was properly conducted,” he said.

He added, “It also confirms that individuals cannot unilaterally assume leadership positions in a political party; this is not a market association, there must be discipline.”

The PDP governors had earlier endorsed the Ibadan convention at which Turaki and other members of the national working committee were elected for a four-year term on November 16.

Despite the leadership dispute, the Turaki-led national working committee has continued consultations with elder statesmen.

In addition to Sambo, the committee has met with Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Goodluck Jonathan and Theophilus Danjuma.