Members of the National Expanded caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday met for the first time since the Supreme Court judgement in Abuja.

The meeting was attended by leaders of the party, including Chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Makarfi; former President Goodluck Jonathan; and the Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

Others included the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu; a former President of the Senate, David Mark; and governors of Rivers, Taraba, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Gombe states.

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Former President Goodluck Jonathan said the first thing the party has to do was to build again so as to attract people.

Jonathan said, “First thing to do is to build the party because a strong party is the key to expansion. A strong party acts like a magnet and will attract all the people. Nigerians still believe in the PDP. So many people including non-politicians were happy at the PDP victory in Supreme Court.”

He stated that the PDP was the largest party that could unite the country.

He added that the party passed through some challenges and came out of them peacefully.

The Chairman of the party, Ahmed Makarfi said members of other political parties were already planning to defect to the PDP, but said he would not mention their names and where they would be coming from.

“This hall will not contain us by the time they start to come back to the PDP. I will not tell you who they are or where they are,” the former governor of Kaduna State said.

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Also speaking at the meeting, Fayose said that the APC must die in order for the PDP to live.

He appealed to members of the party to go back to their states and regain the confidence of their constituencies.

He said, “The APC must die so that the PDP can rise. Old change will give way for a new change. Now the coast is clear, all the party leaders should go home and work for the PDP.

“If this party must win, get Nigerians’ confidence restored, our leaders must go home to boost the party.

“If this party must return to power, we need to get the confidence of Nigerians.”

Other organs of the party are expected to meet as it prepares for a national conference.

Azeez