The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party took a new dimension as the five aggrieved governors of party alongside some former governors and elders of the party announced the formation of the Integrity Group over the weekend.
The announcement came after a meeting hosted by a former deputy national chairman of the party, Olabode George in Lagos.
At the meeting, the group insisted no going back on the decision not to be part of the campaign of the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
They also demanded the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
The governors present at the meeting include Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
Other PDP chieftains present at meeting included former governors Ayo Fayose of Oyo State; Donald Duke of Cross River State; and Jonah Jang of Plateau.
Others in attendance were Deputy Chairman of the PDP, Taofeek Arapaja; Chief Dan Orbih, Senator Olaka Nwogu, Senator Mao Ohuanbunwa, Senator Nasif Suleiman, among others.
Former Governor Jang who briefed newsmen however said the window for reconciliation is still open.
“We have reviewed the issues in our party and we, therefore, stand on the position we took at our last meeting in PortHarcourt and we hereby reiterate our position that the window for reconcilation in our great party, the PDP, remains open,” he said.
Speaking before the meeting proceeded behind closed doors, Makinde stated that the G5 governors who were the face of their struggle were being backed by the leaders and elders of the party present at the meeting whom he said are now part of the newly formed Integrity Group.
Makinde said: “We are here this morning to hold a meeting of the Integrity Group within our party, the PDP. You’ve been of the G5 that is the five PDP governors. The G5 is all about the Integrity Group. You can see us, five serving governors, as the face of this struggle but the leaders and elders of the party that you see here are the people behind those faces.
“We are this morning in the South West to review the situation within our party, to review where we are and to also look at what is going to happen in the coming elections. At the end of our deliberations, you will be fully briefed on where we stand on those burning issues. On behalf of our leaders and elders in the South West, I want to welcome members of the Integrity Group…”
The group had at a meeting held in Port Harcourt in September 20 declared it would not be part of Atiku’s meeting.
George who read the communique then said the campaign council list released by the party which has the name of Wike is “putting the cart before horse”
