The embattled members of the two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State may have decided to bury the hatchet and resolve the prolonged crisis that has divided the rank of the opposition party in the state.
Our correspondent gathered that some moves had begun to bring the protracted crisis that has for long plagued the PDP in the state and threatened peaceful co-existence amongst its members to an end.
The prolonged intra-party battle of wits and muscle-flexing over the control of party machinery had resulted in the birth of the two factions in the state, which held unto each other’s throat while the infighting lasted.
Consequently, aggrieved party members in the state pitched their tents with either of the two different camps controlled by Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo and Prince Sunday Fagbemi, respectively.
A reliable source, however, told our correspondent that the recent decision of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct local government election in November 2017, actually triggered the new peace moves.
This unfolding development has reportedly opened a new vista towards brokering a lasting truce between the warring PDP factions in the state.
According to an insider, the national secretariat of the PDP in Abuja had, during the week, summoned the chairmen of the two factions to Abuja for a crucial meeting on the protracted intra-party crisis in the state.
Each of the two factional chairmen, it was learnt, would be accompanied to the meeting by ten members of his group.
According to party sources, the Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, along with other party stalwarts, have been saddled with the responsibility of brokering truce between the two factions in Kwara and thereafter, strategise with them on how to secure victory in the forthcoming council poll in Kwara.
The committee, it was further learnt, would also at the meeting lay out modalities for choosing a governorship candidate capable enough to defeat incumbent Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in the 2019 election.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, said, “The truce meeting is slated for Abuja and as I speak with you, members nominated from each faction have traveled down and we are hopeful that there is going to be a lasting peace this time.
“Don’t also forget that we can only foster togetherness and attain victory in an atmosphere of peace and total reconciliation. I can assure you that majority of the members, who traveled down to Abuja, did so with such mentality.”
Meanwhile, one of the newly registered political parties in the state, the Young Democratic Party, has vowed to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming council election.
The YDP State Secretary, John Adegboye, told our correspondent that the party was poised to win at least five local government chairmanship seats in the November council poll.
Adebgoye added that the party had begun to mobilise with a view to upstaging the incumbent governor in 2019.
“YDP is not new in the Kwara State and we have in readiness for future elections in the state deployed our foot soldiers and canvassers across the 16 local government councils in the state for the task ahead,’’ he said.
