A head of the 2023 elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has already started plotting moves to oust the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
One of the strategies being considered by the opposition party is to field a consensus presidential candidate to challenge the ruling APC.
The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of PDP, Senator Jibrin Walid, who spoke in Kaduna, said the party was looking at presenting a candidate that would be “agreeable” to all party members from across the country.
Walid also disclosed that plans are already underway to reconcile the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and his Bayelsa counterpart, Seriake Dickson, towards presenting a common front in 2023.
He added that the party hierarchy will soon embark on consultation tour to reconcile all aggrieved members in order to unite and strengthen the party to take over government in 2023 from the APC.
According to him, PDP members will be sensitized to eschew abusive languages against one another and non-members as well as discourage suspension or dismissal of party members.
Walid, a Second Republic lawmaker, stated that there is nothing wrong for any member of the party to show interest for the presidential race.
He, however, pointed out that it will be better for the party members to agree on a consensus candidate just as they are working hard to making the party the strongest and unbeatable in 2023.
He said: “On the presidential candidate, the National Working Committee (NWC), in consultation with all relevant organs, will reveal the plan for coming up with our presidential candidate.
“I don’t think there is anything wrong to allow anybody from any zone to show interest, but our collective decision will bring out an agreeable candidate.
“Meanwhile, what is there in our front is for us to work hard to unite the party by making it the strongest and unbeatable in the next presidential election.
“The Board of Trustees is making necessary arrangement to resolve the crisis between governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and the governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, and of course, among all party members in order to unite strongly our party with a view to taking over government from the ruling party in 2023.
“The disunity among our PDP governors demand urgently this intervention by the conscience of the party and the highest advisory body, the BOT, which is ready to remain neutral all the time.
“We have also directed the BOT Committee on Peace and Conflicts to visit Edo, Kano, Lagos, Osun, Bayelsa and other states which are in conflict with a view to make peace between them.
“I enjoin all members of our great party to stay away from hate speeches and avoid abusive languages among members and even among non-members.
“All we need now is consultation and dialogue in solving our problems and not dismissal or suspension. All members must respect the dignity and supremacy of the party.
“Reconciliations should continue in the units, wards, local government council, states and nationally.
“Another Board committee has been directed to start working on why we lost the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.”
On the chances of former vice president and 2019 presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, the Board Chairman said: “Atiku is a Nigerian. If Atiku wants, he has the right to do so and other people have the right to do so. Do you think it’s only Atiku that wants to contest?”