PDP open to merger, vows not to change name

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Senator Ahmed Makarifi, on Thursday,  vowed not to change its name, out that it was open to enter into an alliance or merger with other lovers of democracy ahead of the 2019 elections.

This came just as the  party declared  that it was ready  to settle all the issues causing crisis in its fold  with the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff group and any other group that was aggrieved only if they would  come to the negotiating table with genuine intention.

Chairman of the 115-member  Strategy Review and Inter Party Affairs Committee,  Professor Jerry Gana,which was inaugurated last month by Makarfi,who revealed this to news men in Abuja, yesterday  however defined the basis upon which the party would  enter into such merger or alliance.

Gana pointed out  that the plans for merger or alliance would  not degenerate to what” is happening to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He added that its syndicate committee, led by former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, “is working on modalities for such arrangement.”

According to Gana, “on the progress of alliance, I will  like to give details of what is being recommended. But the PDP is desirous of attracting all lovers of democracy across the country as we move forward.

“But there are details I cannot divulge at the moment because the committee’s recommendation will be passed on to the party leadership. It will not be wise to disclose the details before we submit the report

“On the issue of mega party, we are not yet aware of PDP involvement but all we can say is that the party wants to relate with lovers of democracy in all the parties

“We have a syndicate committee working on this chaired by former deputy senate president, Ibrahim Mantu. They are to give us the guidelines for any re-alignment plan and the number of parties that are willing to join us. Our engagement will be based on principle, cleared guidelines

“But that does not mean it will degenerate to what is happening to the ruling party. ?PDP wants solid and united party. PDP is the only party that can be found in every ward, and it is the only party that has not changed it name, and we are not going to change the name of our party?’’

In a related development, PDP, in a statement by its national publicity secretary,, Prince Dayo Adeyeye,  warned Sheriff to stop personalising the peace process to Makarfi,  as the ‘‘caretaker committee is not averse to any peaceful resolution.”

It stated  that Sheriff was the one that refused to inaugurate the 30-man committee agreed upon by both parties for the peaceful resolution of the conflict to be held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel about two months ago.

“We believe he is playing to the gallery. If not, why is he calling off and on for impracticable peaceful negotiation that has caused the Party’s loss of the Edo and Ondo States Gubernatorial Elections and some other previous elections in the Country

“For a man who claims to seek peace and fight against impunity, his actions so far are indeed contradictory. Nigerians are aware of how he has been manipulating the Judiciary to delay justice against the party; even as a Plaintiff, he prays the Court to delay the Case which is unprecedented in litigation processes

“ Again today, Senator Sheriff and co stalled the Appeal Court hearing because with a third petition to the NJC against the Special Appeal Panel claiming that the panel is biased and corrupt “Can such a man be ready for peace with his Party? We doubt it!

“We wish to stress that the National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi is ready and willing to settle all issue amicably with the Ali Modu Sheriff Group in the interest of peace and total reconciliation in the Party

“ But, he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. Again, we are ready for total reconciliation with the Modu Sherrif group or any other group that is aggrieved for that matter, only if they will come to the Negotiating Table with genuine intention,” the party said.