The Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP-GF) and former governors have named former Senate President Bukola Saraki as the head of a seven-member reconciliation committee.The PDP-GF Chairman, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, announced this while briefing newsmen after the forum’s crucial meeting with former governors, on Sunday night in Abuja.

Mohammed said that the seven-member committee was mandated to reconcile aggrieved members ahead of the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting schedule for May 27 and the forthcoming national convention in August. “We are here with all the governors elected under the party, that are still in the party and a substantial number of former PDP governors, with our leaders, the chairman of the party, and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC).“We discussed some of the issues relating to our party, some existential issues, of cours,e that have been circulating in the media and among us, so that we will be able to navigate smoothly for the NEC scheduled to take place on May 27 and by August, we will have an early convention.“So many issues and reports have been made, and it is an opportunity to close ranks, and to make sure that at least there is no ill feelings, there are no qualms, there are no misgivings between the leaders of the party.“Governors of the party have reached out to our colleagues who have been there before, who have more experience.”Whatever suggestions or opinions they may have, will go a long way in giving an added impetus to the actualisation of our NEC, and our convention that is scheduled to take place on specific days.“We want to reassure our teaming supporters that the PDP is working, the PDP is united,” Mohammed said.Answering questions on the recent defection of Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and others to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mohammed said the party was working not only to strengthen it structures, but also reclaim its states.“Well, this is some of the manifestations in a democratic set-up like this that we have, and this is what is forcing us to come together.“Rather than diminishing and weakening, it is making us stronger, and we will make sure at least those chapters where we have history, where we have structure, are not left alone.“They will be able to produce governors of the PDP by the grace of God, because we will be providing the level playing field in the next convention that is coming up” he said.On what specific issues were discussed at the meeting, Mohammed said:”I cannot tell you all the issues that we discussed.”We discussed unity. Definitely there are some ill feelings, and we are not here to hide things under the carpet. You know some of them.“Some of the litigations in court, some of the misgivings between party members, and of course, we wouldn’t want to blame the APC for causing crisis, but they are likely to be the ones. We are not saying they are,” he said.Report says that other members of the committee are governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Caleb Muftwang of Plateau, and Peter Mba of Enugu State.Other members are Sen. Seriake Dickson, Sen. Ibrahim Dankwambo, and former governor of Abia State, Chief Okezie Ikpeazu.Others in attendance of the meeting held at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, include governors of Enugu, Zamfara, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Osun and Oyo states.Others are the Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike, and the Secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi.Others are Sen. Aminu Tambuwal, Sule Lamido, Okezie Ikpeazu, Samuel Ortom, Gabriel Suswam, Seriake Dickson, Sam Egwu, Liyel Imoke, Achike Udenwa, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Adamu Muazu and Idris Wada.Also at the meeting were party acting National Chairman of the party, Urmar Damagum, and other members of the PDP National Working Committee, including the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade. (NAN)

Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Friday said the Senators from Kebbi State, elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were set to decamp to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).Ganduje said this while addressing State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Friday.

The APC chairman led Dr Nasir Idris, the Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi and Senators Adamu Aliero, Yahaya Abdullahi and Garba Maidoki to the meeting with Tinubu.He said a lot of discussions went underground between the major stakeholders in Kebbi and that they came to the conclusion that the three PDP senators from the state would decamp to the APC.“This is a good development and it is in consonance with what is happening in Nigeria today.“Almost every week in the Senate and House of Representatives, you see members of other political parties decamping to our party.“So, we came here so that Mr President will bless this resolution and he has graciously given his blessing, and by Tuesday you will see what will happen in the Red Chambers.“Our constitution is very clear about this, and with our political dexterity in managing such affairs, I assure you that there will be a smooth integration,” said the APC chairman.He added that the fear of one-party state was misplaced::”We are not saying we are working for a one-party system, but if this is the wish of Nigerians we cannot quarrel with that.“You know they say too many cooks spoil the soup; too many political parties spoil governance.”Ganduje said that the move was in continuation with the initiative of Tinubu, saying, “APC must do what we must do democratically in order to increase our numerical strength, and also our quality and capacity of followership.” (NAN)

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf has warned that the present lawmakers would not allow any political officer holder or individual to ridicule the chambers as an institution.Aliyu stated this while fielding questions from Assembly correspondents when the embattled Coordinator, Kogi State Social Investment Programme Agency (KOSSIPA), Hajiya Aishat Oyiza Omade finally honoured the Assembly invitation after several months of defiance.

Aliyu asserted that the Assembly under his watch will never be subjected to ridicule adding that, the present eight Assembly remains committed to protecting the legislative arm of government without fear or favor.”She was not even qualified to appear before all of us. It must be a serious issue before such can happen. According to the report we received from the committee, she seems not to be available after several invitations. The report was brought to the house and the lawmakers have to come together in protecting the committee by compelling her to come.”The objective of our pronouncement on Tuesday was achieved. Any officer irrespective of the office you are occupying in Kogi State can be invited. She has come and we have admonished her to always work in accordance with the law.”By extension, we have admonished other office holders to be wary of the law. Any position that they find themselves in is guided by rules and this must be obeyed. We didn’t give her much attention that is why the house out of its magnanimity referred her back to the committee she failed to honour before now.”She cannot be bigger than the committee. What we have achieved is to allow them to take charge of what they want her to do. Let it be on record that there is no petition against her or infractions committed before now.”The thing is that she failed to honour invitations of the committee that oversees her agency. We have compelled her to come. This will send a signal to others that nobody is above this institution called Kogi State House of Assembly”.He maintained that the committee has the legislative duties backed by law to carry out their oversight function for the purpose of good governance in Kogi State.The number three citizen of Kogi State dismissed public insinuation that the house has been compromised to wade the big stick against the KOSSIPA boss.According to him “Nothing has exchanged hands. If we don’t want to be serious about this, we won’t come to the plenary and discuss. We are very serious about it. The essence is to let them know that we are not rubber stamps. If we need an explanation from the Governor, we will write to him.”If she had failed to appear today, the world would see what would have happened. I don’t want to be one person that will wade any provision of the constitution to any officer in the State. We must do the right thing by obeying the constitution governing us. We were the one that screened her here. So, why is she evading the house invitation?It would be recalled that the lawmakers on Tuesday threatened to issue a bench warrant of arrest against Omade if she failed to appear before the house on 7th May, 2025.Omade was accused of failing to appear before the house adhoc standing committee on special duties, legislative compliance, government house administration and Governor Office headed by the majority leader of the house Hon. Suleiman Abdulrazak member representing Okene 1.