Former Senate President Reconciles Aggrieved Plateau PDP Members Ahead of Elections

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National  Reconciliation Committee led by former Senate President, Dr. Iyorcha Ayo, has declared that the state chapter of the party is now free from crisis that bedeviled it in the past, as it has resolved the internal crisis that threatened the party's chances in the next election.

The party has suffered from crisis arising from the selection of a running mate for the party gubernatorial candidate, Jeremiah Useni. This is even as some groups in the party had earlier rejected Useni's emergence on the account of his age.

Aside from the former Governor of the state, Fidelis Tapgun, who resigned from his position as the Chairman of the Elders Council, sources said the crisis in the party also forced other notable leaders, including former Governor Jonah Jang  and former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, among others to avoid one another in activities of  the party including campaigns

The development which was causing confusion in the party, especially among supporters ahead of the 2019 poll, was said to have forced the National Secretariat of the party to set up the Iyorcha Ayu-led reconciliation committee with the former Governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada, and that of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, as members.

It was learnt that the former Senate president led members of his committee on a reconciliation meeting with the aggrieved party leaders in Jos last Friday

Present at the meeting which was held at the PDP Secretariat in Jos were former Governor Jonah Jang, former Governor Fidelis Tapgun, former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu; governorship candidate, Useni; state party Chairman, Damishi Sango, former governorship aspirants and the five deputy governorship nominees whose non selection caused major division in the party.

Ayu, who briefed journalists after the meeting held at the party state secretariat in Jos, said members of his committee had reconciled all the party leaders, adding that they had also agreed to work together for the success of the party in the 2019 poll.

He said: "We are asked to come to Plateau State to look into a few party problems, some arising from the previous elections and other, assess the situation and find a solution to them.

“I am happy to say that we were warmly received, and they answered all our questions very honesty, and at the end of the day, we have agreed to put our grievances behind us and all differences have been successfully resolved."

When asked the issues which his committee resolved, he added: "One of the issues we resolved was that some leaders were not being carried along by the party leadership. The other issue is about Tapgun who has resigned as the chairman of the elders’ council. However, I am happy to announce to you that he has accepted to take the position back.

"The leaders have also agreed to mobilise their supporters for the campaigns and agreed as well to deepen the reconciliation process down to the ward levels. I am very optimistic that God willing, PDP would be victorious in the state during the general election."