The major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified moves to overcome its internal crisis, as the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Caretaker Committee have reaffirmed their commitment to unity, respect for court rulings and preparations for outstanding congresses ahead of a national convention.

Speaking at the 85th meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees in Abuja on Monday, the BoT Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, described the party as being at a critical crossroads, urging leaders to place collective interest above personal ambition.

Ohuabunwa said the PDP had weathered months of turbulence marked by leadership disputes and legal battles, but survived due to its strong institutions and adherence to constitutional order.

According to him, the delay in conducting party congresses was a deliberate and cautious decision taken out of respect for pending judicial processes, and not an abdication of responsibility.

“The PDP chose legality over expediency and patience over provocation,” he said, adding that history would judge the party kindly for upholding the rule of law.

He welcomed recent judicial pronouncements, particularly the Federal High Court judgment in Ibadan, which affirmed the legitimacy of the Abdulrahman-led National Caretaker Committee, and called on party members to respect the judiciary and comply with lawful decisions.

Ohuabunwa warned against divisive rhetoric and actions capable of undermining democratic institutions, stressing that the moral authority of the BoT lies in fairness, balance and due process.

“With the legal fog lifting, the focus must now shift to reconciliation, rebuilding trust and laying the groundwork for orderly congresses and a credible national convention,” he said, noting that unity was a strategic imperative for the survival of the party.

In his remarks, the National Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, thanked members of the BoT for their steadfast support, describing it as crucial to the stability of the party at a defining moment.

Mohammed also expressed gratitude to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory for standing by the Caretaker Committee, saying the support had strengthened its resolve to reposition the party.

He said the Christmas and New Year holidays were over and that it was time for decisive action to deliver on the mandate given to the Caretaker Committee to put the PDP back on track.

The caretaker chairman confirmed that the Ibadan High Court had delivered a declaratory judgment in favour of the committee, stressing that the law was clear and that justice would continue to be pursued for the party.

“Any moment from now, we shall roll out a timetable for activities relating to outstanding congresses in some states, which will usher in a seamless national convention,” he disclosed.

Mohammed described the PDP as the only political party built around the people, with nationwide structures, coherence and verifiable legacies, warning that the party could not afford to “sleep on its hands”.

He also commended party stakeholders across the country for their unwavering support during what he described as defining times for the opposition party.

Both leaders expressed optimism that ongoing engagements, reconciliation efforts and planned congresses would reposition the PDP as a strong and credible alternative in Nigeria’s political landscape. (Nigerian Tribune)

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