Fresh moves to reconcile factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have emerged after former Heads of State Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida were consulted by party chieftain Gbenga Hashim as part of efforts to end the party’s internal rift.

The quiet consultations form part of a broader mediation effort aimed at easing tensions after months of legal battles and factional manoeuvring that strained the party’s cohesion.

Party stakeholders are now pushing for a political solution that could stabilise the PDP ahead of future elections.

Vanguard learnt that Hashim has been reaching out to key figures across rival blocs through a series of discreet backchannel contacts. Multiple sources confirmed that the consultations with Obasanjo and Babangida were part of the reconciliation effort.

Officials familiar with the process said the mediation drive began in January with consultations involving leaders of the Turaki bloc before extending to discussions with Mallam Abdulrahman, a prominent figure within the faction often associated with former Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State.

Sources said the discussions focused largely on the political and institutional risks of prolonged litigation within the party.

Within party circles, the outreach to Obasanjo and Babangida was seen as an attempt to draw on the moral authority of the PDP’s founding generation at a time many members consider critical for the party’s stability.

Developments in the legal arena also appear to be strengthening the push for reconciliation. During the hearing of an appeal at the Court of Appeal of Nigeria sitting in Ibadan on Wednesday, the justices reportedly advised the parties involved in the dispute to consider reconciliation, stressing the importance of political stability and internal dispute resolution within political parties.

Last weekend marked what sources described as a turning point. Intensified backchannel communications between key figures on both sides produced what they called an agreement in principle to begin harmonising positions, regardless of pending court rulings.

“The temperature has dropped. People are talking again,” a senior party official said.

The source said factions are now preparing to deepen consultations and move toward structured face-to-face engagements, although formal documentation of the emerging understanding has yet to be finalised.

“The mood in the party is reconciliation, whatever the expected decision of the Court of Appeal early next week. Many members’ political careers depend on it. Those aspiring to the State Assembly, governorship seats, the House of Representatives and the Senate all understand that their ambitions depend on having a stable and united party,” another party source said.

The PDP’s recent performance in Area Council elections demonstrated the resilience of its grassroots structure, even as party leaders acknowledge that unity at the top remains essential to sustaining that momentum.

“The structure is strong. What was missing was cohesion,” the source said.

Whether the tentative breakthrough will translate into lasting unity remains uncertain as legal proceedings continue and political ambitions persist.

Vanguard reliably gathered that communication channels between the two factions aligned with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, which had long been frozen, are now open. (Vanguard)

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