Efforts to mend fences persist following PDP national convention, says Wike

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By Omeiza Ajayi, ABUJA

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, has said Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, remains committed to resolving disputes with aggrieved members – but after the March 29 and 30 National Convention.

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Read Also: PDP Showdown: Makinde, Wike’s  blocs disagree over tomorrow’s convention

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He dismissed legal challenges from the Tanimu Turaki group.

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Wike said: “There is room for accommodation. The PDP is a very large party. Look at the umbrella, it is wide enough to accommodate everyone.

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“I have always said that in any group, there will be grievances. You cannot expect that in a family of two or three people, everyone would always be satisfied, let alone a party with millions of members.

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“There will always be a few who are not happy. We have agreed to sit down with them, understand their concerns, and see how we can accommodate them. What is most important is the overall interest of the party”, he stated.

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Wike spoke on Friday night after an inspection of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome venue for the March 29 and 30 convention.

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Accompanying the minister were high-ranking party officials, including the Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Board of Trustees BoT Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa; and the Chairman of the National Caretaker Working Committee NCWC, Mohammed Abdulrahman.

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Zoning and consensus

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Wike confirmed that the party has finalised its zoning arrangement to ensure a seamless transition of leadership.

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Under the agreement, the presidency has been allocated to the South, while the chairmanship has been zoned to the North.

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“We have already zoned our positions. Every zone has its own slots. The presidency has been zoned to the South, while the chairmanship is zoned to the North. We believe this consensus arrangement will make the process easier.

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“For the first time, the PDP is presenting a unified front, rather than the usual ‘unity list’ that often reflects internal divisions. There are no factions. Everyone has agreed on the direction we are taking,” he stated.

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Following his assessment of the facilities, Wike expressed total confidence in the readiness of the planning committee. He noted that seating for delegates from all states and the VIP sections have been finalized.

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“We are fully prepared. This visit is to assess final arrangements. As I said, we are about 95 percent ready, and by Saturday, everything will be set.

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“Seating arrangements for all states have been completed and the VIP section is ready. We do not expect more than 2,500 delegates,” he said.

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