By Emeka Nze
Abuja
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) Strategy and Review Committee, Prof. Jerry Gana, has said that his committee “is not yet aware of the involvement of the party in the formation of a new political party touted to be a mega party.”
He said although the party was relating with lovers of democracy across the country and across party divides, he would not divulge details as the syndicate committee in charge of discussions with individuals and other parties headed by the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, was yet to submit its report to the party.
Gana, who was speaking at a meeting of his committee in Abuja, said ongoing discussions to form alliance with other political parties were not aimed at changing the name of the party, but to forge a strong and united party.
According to him, PDP will avoid the pitfalls of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in forming alliance.
He said the Mantu committee would give the guidelines for any re-alignment plan and the number of parties that were willing to join PDP based on principle and clear guidelines.
He said: “I would like to give details of what is being recommended but the PDP is desirous of attracting all lovers of democracy across the country as we move forward.
“But there are details I cannot divulge at the moment because the committee’s recommendation will be passed on to the party leadership. It will not be wise to disclose the details before we submit the report.
“On the issue of mega party, we are not yet aware of PDP’s involvement but all we can say is that the party wants to relate with lovers of democracy in all the parties. We have a syndicate committee working on this chaired by former deputy senate president, Ibrahim Mantu.
“They are to give us the guidelines for any re-alignment plan and the number of parties that are willing to join us. Our engagement will be based on principle, cleared guidelines.
“But that does not mean to degenerate to what is happening to the ruling party. PDP wants solid and united party. PDP is the only party that can found in every ward, and it is the only party that has not changed its name, and we are not going to change the name of our party.”
