Suswan dismisses Saraki’s cmm’tee, 2027 aspiration

Despite efforts being made to reconcile warring factions and reposition the main opposition People Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 election, the former Benue State Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, has thrown another bomb, predicting that the party could collapse before 2027 if leaders don’t take serious steps to fix its problems.

The PDP is currently battling myriads of problems ranging from gales of defection, age-long internal wrangling and in-fightings and internal factionalization by main actors and among stakeholders in the party’s main organ as well as members across the country.

More recently, the party recently experienced a mass defection in Delta state when the Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, his immediate predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and other erstwhile leaders and members of the PDP moved en masse into to the All Progressives Congress, signifying a turning point in the state’s political history.

However, while speaking on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Tuesday, Suswam disregarded gains made in reconciling and repositioning the party, insisting: “Our party PDP is in a critical condition.”

“A lot of people are hanging on, waiting to see the ultimate end of this party.”

“Many members have lost hope and believe the party might not survive.

“But who knows, efforts by PDP governors and former governors, led by ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, may help save the party,” Suswan was quoted as saying.

His position was coming about the same time the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, chairman Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara, and other stakeholders preparatory to the much-anticipated National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, dismissed fears over various challenges plaguing the party, saying the party will rise again.

Saraki a few days ago was named Chairman of a reconciliation committee, as part of efforts to unite aggrieved members ahead of the party’s crucial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for the end of May.

Comparing the PDP to a patient in the Intensive Care Unit, Suswam stated further: “Whether there is light at the end of the tunnel in the efforts made by Senator Saraki will be seen in the next two weeks. For now, I would say that PDP is in the hospital? Yes. It is in the ICU to some extent? Yes, it is. Can it be rescued? Yes, if the proper medicine is applied.”

“Its survival chances are 50-50. If Saraki’s team fails, he warned, the party may not survive,”

To further compound the party’s woes, in what could be likened to renew of hostilities between him and the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, a few days ago warned leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against making the mistake of 2023.

In a media chat, Wike said the opposition party should not consider zoning its 2027 presidential ticket to the north.

“Why not as a party openly say our presidential candidate will come from the South?” he asked.

“You don’t want to do that. You want to play the same game you played in 2023. It will backfire.

“This smartness won’t help you. Come out now and let everybody know where you are heading. You can’t send the presidency to the north. I told them. Selfishness can kill a system,’ Wike warned.

“For example, if Mr President runs and wins in 2027, by 2031 APC will send their presidential ticket to the North.