Truce unlikely as Governors 'withdraw' from peace talks

The crisis that has torn the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apart may have deepened.

According to Leadership newspaper, PDP governors have withdrawn from the reconciliation process leading to the cancellation of the inauguration of the party's reconciliation committee.

The inauguration was scheduled to hold on Tuesday, October 18,  at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja by 4:00pm.

If inaugurated, the committee would have indicated a major move towards ending the crisis that has undermined the political might of the party and threatens its existence.

The aggrieved factions - embattled national chairman Senator Ali Modu Sheriff's group and the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee, had met last month and expressed commitment to end their feud.

Both factions subsequently agreed to setup a reconciliation committee of 28 members, comprising 14 persons from both camps to straighten the peace process.

But the proposed peace deal, as it appears, may be off the table.

It was gathered that the Governors' withdrawal from the process was due to Sheriff's insistence on Jimoh Ibrahim as candidate in the Ondo governorship election as against Eyitayo Jegede, who emerged under the platform of Makarfi’s leadership.

The Governors are also angry that Sheriff inaugurated a parallel party executive for Delta State, despite the existence of a substantive party executive in the state, report said.

A party source was quoted as saying; "This was not our agreement. Look at what is happening in Delta State PDP, inaugurating parallel executive and look at what is happening in Ondo, the man is coming out with a different candidate for the state governorship election."

The party is yet to make an official statement as to why the inauguration of the reconciliation committee was cancelled.