Bauchi, Nigeria – Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, was conspicuously absent from the party’s North East Zonal Caucus meeting held on Thursday in Bauchi State.
The high-profile gathering was attended by the region’s three PDP governors—Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Taraba State Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, and Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umar Fintiri. Also present were senators, members of the House of Representatives, and state lawmakers from the zone.
Discussions at the meeting focused on preparations for the party’s upcoming zonal and national conventions, as well as strategies to strengthen PDP’s presence in the North East.
Acting PDP National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagun, emphasized the need for unity within the party, urging members to set aside personal differences and prioritize collective interests.
“Interest is important, but you can only achieve your goals if the party remains strong enough to serve as the vehicle to your destination,” Damagun said. “The PDP is a well-established and trusted party, and we have experienced leaders capable of overcoming any challenge.”
Damagun reiterated that his leadership is committed to the party’s growth rather than personal affiliations. “Nobody is above the people’s party,” he asserted. “We will support and recognize our members, but if anyone deviates from the party’s principles, we will have no choice but to move forward without them.”
In his remarks, Governor Bala Mohammed, who also serves as Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, reaffirmed the governors’ dedication to strengthening the party. As part of reconciliation efforts, he announced a rotation of key party positions across states in the region.
“To minimize internal conflicts, leadership positions will be reassigned across states—those in Gombe will move to Bauchi, those in Borno to Yobe, and those in Adamawa to Taraba, and vice versa,” Mohammed explained.
He further assured members that former zonal leaders who had previously left the party would be welcomed back and fully reintegrated. “We will rehabilitate them, keep them within our fold, and ensure they take pride in their past leadership roles within our party,” he added.
The meeting reinforced the PDP’s commitment to unity and strategic restructuring as it prepares for the next political cycle in the North East and beyond.
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