Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has called on aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to take advantage of the ongoing reconciliation efforts and return to the party.
Mbah made this appeal on Thursday while receiving members of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee, led by former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, at the Enugu Government House.
The committee’s visit was aimed at briefing the governor on its efforts to address internal disputes within the party.
Describing Enugu as the “bastion of PDP,” Mbah urged the committee to ensure a genuine and lasting resolution that would encourage disaffected members to rejoin the party.
He stressed the importance of unity, stating, “The only way the party could win elections was through a united front, built on true reconciliation and justice.”
Highlighting the party’s cohesion in the Southeast, Mbah emphasized that significant efforts had already been made to reintegrate those who had left.
“We also believe that the Southeast is a stronghold of the PDP, and if we have people who are out now, it is not necessarily their desire to be out. So, what we need at this time is to bring back our aggrieved members to where they belong.”
Reaffirming PDP’s national influence, he added, “The PDP is still largely the party with the spread that is required to win any election in this country and still appeals to the people of this country.”
Mbah expressed confidence that reconciliation efforts would be fruitful, stating, “I have no doubt in my mind that those of our brothers who are just waiting for moments like this will be brought back to where they belong, and we can forge a strong alliance going into the next general elections.”
Earlier, the chairman of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee, Prince Oyinlola, identified internal disunity as a major factor in the party’s loss in the 2023 presidential election and other electoral contests.
He appealed to aggrieved party members to embrace peace, saying, “Nigerians need to invest their trust in PDP to do things right in the country.”
Also speaking, the Enugu State PDP Chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunwike, described the reconciliation initiative as a crucial step in reviving the party’s strength in the state.
He noted that under Governor Mbah’s leadership, “the party was already witnessing a mass return of members who had left for other parties.”
