The Peoples Democratic Party said on Wednesday that the internal crisis rocking the party is caused by the shock over its first major election defeat ever.
Post-Election trauma.
The National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the party has overcome from Post-Election trauma caused by its historic fall from power.
After 16 years in power, PDP lost to the All Progressives Congress, a coalition of four opposition parties.
Some members blame the leadership of the party for the defeat and demand the resignation of the executive.
“We are aware that this unfortunate development is a consequence of post-election trauma arising from our first ever defeat. We however note with relief that we have now overcome this challenge,” Mr. Metuh said in a statement.
“The leadership of the PDP regrets any embarrassment the avoidable skirmishes may have caused the members of our great party, especially our founding fathers and teeming supporters across the country,” the party said.
It added that President Goodluck Jonathan had intervened in the crisis and that a Post-Election Review Committee had been inaugurated.
The party therefore commended Mr. Jonathan for his “mature and timely intervention in ending the bickering among leaders of the party as a result of the outcome of the 2015 general elections”.
Mr. Metuh said, “The National Working Committee will absolutely abide by the counsel and has instructed all the executives of the party at all levels to comply accordingly.
“The National Working Committee assures that in the new spirit of harmony in the PDP family, the reengineering process which began on Tuesday with the inauguration of the Post-Election Review Committee will be vigorously sustained to restore the lost glory of our great party.
“We therefore urge all our members to ensure that they henceforth guard their utterances and actions no matter the provocation and distortions in some section of the media while channelling their energies and ideas towards the rebuilding process.
“In this regard, all members who have reports, grievances and suggestions on the way forward should transmit same to the Post-Election Review Committee for an all-inclusive roadmap in the overall effort to regain power in 2019.
“Our members should be wary of the activities of some mischievous persons within and outside the PDP family who are bent on frustrating this peace effort. Such individuals and groups have found the social media a veritable tool for their mischief through distortion of facts, false allegations and fabrications against our party,” PDP added.