The Peoples ‎Democratic Party (PDP) Unity Forum has asked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and five governors  who left the party to return ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The forum in a statement yesterday by ‎its national coordinator, Chris Okike argued that their return would prepare grounds for PDP's take over in 2019.

Atiku dumped the PDP at the peak of internal crisis in the party in 2014, with then governors Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed  (Kwara), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).

‎But Okike said, "After a vigorous but exhaustive consultations with the critical stakeholder of our great party nationwide, there is a consensus opinion that we should make concerted effort to persuade the governors and senators and other leader who justifiable felt aggrieved and left our fold to come back to their original party, the PDP.

"While some clandestine consultations is still ongoing, we, the PDP Unity Forum on behalf of the leadership of our great party humbly and most respectfully appeal to our most illustrious, industrious and famous governors and other respected party leaders to please, come back to where they rightfully belong PDP.

"Incidentally, it’s a common knowledge that they are not being fairly treated in their new party, so we appeal that they should come back to PDP now that we have a new leadership that exhibit and cherish internal democracy."