Politics

Presidency makes u-turn, says Buhari may meet with nPDP members

Published

7 years ago

June 20, 2018

The Presidency has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has not ruled out having a session with members of the new Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, within the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
This disclosure is a u-turn from the President’s previous position as conveyed to the public by his aides.

A report had emerged on Monday that Buhari would have nothing to do with the nPDP since their issue was a party matter.

But that position seemed to shift a bit on Tuesday when a top Presidency source revealed that the president’s meeting with the group has not be foreclosed.

Tribune newspaper reports that a source who pleaded anonymity reiterated that Buhari has decided not to meet with the aggrieved party members in order not to be seen to be interfering with party matters.

However, he pointed out that the President may meet with nPDP members after he has been briefed on the issue at the end of the factions discussions with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

The source affirmed that Osinbajo has the blessing of the president who was expected to be briefed by the Vice President at the end of the talks.

The source said: “A process has begun, with the party talking to those feeling estranged. The meeting has risen to the level of the Vice President. This is expected to continue.

“At the culmination of these meetings, the President will obviously be briefed.

“Before that point is reached, the President will not meddle or interfere.

“He is staying above it all, not arising from arrogance or snubbing anyone.

“The President expects that, even if he will meet with nPDP, the due process should be observed in all situations and that is what he is doing.”

Members of nPDP broke out from the former ruling party to align with the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) to win the 2015 general election.

It has in its rank the likes of Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).

The group, which had recently complained of being marginalized in the APC, issued an ultimatum to President Buhari to meet with them but the meeting never materialized.