The crack in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Niger State yesterday worsened as a group loyal to the Bamanga Tukur faction is set to formally storm Abuja and declare support, a development that contradicts assurance by the state governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, that the party is united in the state.
The group which had serving and former members of the national and state assemblies and leaders from the 25 local government areas of the state are set to formally present a letter to Bamanga Tukur in Abuja any moment from now.
A source within the group told our reporter that but for the directive that the two factions should hold their peace until the October 7th meeting the President will hold with the G7 governors, the group would have visited Abuja to solidarize with Tukur led PDP.
Meanwhile in a bid to secure home support for pitching tent with the Abubakar Kawu-Baraje faction of the PDP governor Aliyu yesterday commenced a fence-mending meeting with some selected elders and stakeholders of the party in the state.
The meeting earlier slated for Government House was moved to the Presidential Lodge and was called to enable the governor explained reasons for ditching the mainstream PDP to which most elders in the state belong.
It was gathered that the meeting appointed a committee headed by Aminu Kontagora, a colonel the chairman of state Elders Council of the party to meet with the leaders of the party believed to be the arrow heads of the Tukur led group.
The committee is to meet with former governor of the state, Abdulkadir Kure, former minister of information, Jerry Gana and Dahiru Awaisu Kuta.
It was gathered that the governor was not comfortable with the growing support the Bamanga Tukur led faction was enjoying, especially from some elders and leaders of the party at the grassroot level in the state.