…As Senator Ningi, other PDP stakeholders join Abuja meeting to calm tensions
As pressure mounts within the Peoples Democratic Party over its unsettled national chairmanship race, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde made a quiet visit to the Abuja residence of former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, on Friday.
The visit, which happened behind closed doors, was the latest in a string of efforts to steady the party at a time when disagreements are threatening to overshadow preparations for the forthcoming national convention.
Makinde was joined by Senator Abdul Ningi and a group of senior PDP stakeholders who have been moving between camps in search of a workable truce.
Those familiar with the meeting said the mission was simple but urgent. Lamido has been at the heart of the current dispute after facing hurdles in obtaining the nomination form for the chairmanship position, a situation his supporters describe as deliberate sidelining.
The pushback has deepened existing cracks and sharpened concerns ahead of the convention.
While the details of Friday’s discussion were not made public, party insiders described it as a frank conversation aimed at defusing tensions before they become damaging.
They noted that Makinde’s presence signaled how seriously the party’s leadership is taking the moment. With legal uncertainties and recent court rulings complicating the already delicate process, the stakes have risen even higher.
For many within the PDP, time is running out. They worry that if the rift around Lamido and other aggrieved blocs is not properly handled, the party could walk into the convention more divided than before. Makinde’s outreach, they believe, may help rebuild trust and create the space needed for a compromise.