The alliance is aimed at denying President Muhammadu Buhari a second term in office.
The participating groups say a change of name by the PDP is desirable to give everyone a sense of belonging.
But with 13 states under its control, the former ruling party does not want merger, preferring only collaboration that will unite all opposition parties, groups and political leaders.
Nonetheless, the PDP plans to raise a committee soon to work out modalities for coalition with other parties and interest groups like ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s CNM.
Some elders and governors elected on the platform of the party have also initiated moves to curb the influence of Governors Nyesom Wike and Ayo Fayose on the party such that the other groups will not be scared away from working with the PDP.
Highly placed party sources said last night that ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Governor Sule Lamido, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo are leading the search chart of PDP.
The party is not relenting in wooing Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Senate President Bukola Saraki back to its fold.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is not less busy.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s strategists and some APC leaders are understood to be working on the possibility of reaching what a source called an “accord concordiale” with some PDP governors and respected leaders of the party during the 2019 polls.
One of the leaders that Buhari’s strategists are mounting pressure on is ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau whose return to APC is believed can whittle down the influence of Kwankwanso in Kano.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that PDP leaders are anchoring their plan to oust the APC from power on propaganda and forging a grand coalition against the ruling party.
The coalition part of the plan has seen the party reach out to other opposition parties, the CNM and some key political figures in the six geopolitical zones who are against Buhari’s re-election.
However, it was gathered that the PDP is finding it difficult to rally international support against Buhari, whose integrity is still being trusted by world leaders.
The party is counting solely on ex-President Obasanjo to do the ‘damage’ but the one-man international campaign against the President does not seem to be having the expected result yet.
Findings revealed that a recurring issue in the ongoing secret talks, covert negotiation and lobbying by PDP, is the demand by affected parties, groups and leaders that it should change its name.
Giving an insight into the development so far, one of the sources said:”These opposition parties, some leaders of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) and some key political figures in all the six geopolitical zones are asking PDP to change its name in order to enable more Nigerians identify with it.
“Those interested in the coalition with PDP said the party’s name has been battered because of alleged massive corruption when it was in power for 16 years. They said the electorate might not want to associate with it.
“A few other parties do not want to lose their identities. They want a sort of merger like the case with APC.
“In fact, Obasanjo’s CNM would have loved to identify with PDP but the hijack of the party by some governors at the last national convention foreclosed a wholesale adoption of the opposition party. The CNM would prefer a change of name by PDP for effective coalition against APC.”
The source said the PDP has made it clear to those interested in working with it that it will not change its name or symbol.
The party believes that any change in its identity is an easy technical way of killing it for a new set of ownership.”
A PDP leader said: “The National Working Committee sees the demand for either merger or a change of name as a booby trap to kill PDP by some forces.
“The timeline does not favour a change of name or merger. It is like starting afresh.
“Why should PDP which has about 13 governors lose its name? We believe our party is in a position of strength and should be allowed to enjoy the privilege in a coalition.
“If we go for another name, won’t they say the same people in PDP are in the new party like the case now with the Social Democratic Party?
“You don’t change a party’s name on the basis of losing election
“We are also suspecting that some of those who left the party are plotting to return to PDP through the backdoor. This is why they are giving this condition of change of name.”
The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan said yesterday that the challenge before the party is “not about the name, it is a perception issue.”
The party has no image challenge, he said when contacted.
He added: “We would allow Nigerians to choose our candidate for 2019 presidential poll; we will not interfere with the process.
“At the end of the day, we will ensure the emergence of a credible candidate who will accord priority to national unity and development and the reshaping of the nation’s economy.”
