National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Bamanga Tukur yesterday expressed hope that prominent members of the party that left for other parties would soon return to the PDP.

Five governors, former leaders of the party and 37 House of Reps members had left the PDP for the APC in December.

The PDP national chairman who made this known in London, Wednesday, in a chat with a team of Nigerian Professionals based in Europe, led by Dr Edwin Olabamiro who paid him a visit, said with the measures being put in place in the PDP along with President Goodluck Jonathan, those who defected from the PDP would willingly return to the party.

The PDP chairman said going by the undercurrents within the political circles, PDP would swell with influx of new members this year, as according to him, many members from the opposition camp had already signified resolve to join the PDP.

Said he, "The good thing is that if 5 people move out of PDP into the other party, even by a dint of propaganda, the party takes in more than 500 at a time, as replacement. The electorate in Nigeria trust the PDP more than many people are aware.

"As the Chairman of PDP, let me say that we may not be having it smooth in the party at the moment, The Party and Mr President are not relenting on holding consultations with the aggrieved members. 

 "At the end of it all, PDP would be the better and more prepared to do greater exploits. Our members should, therefore, savour the period of the yuletide and not allow any issue to keep them distracted and depressed".

The professionals had sought audience with the PDP Chairman on their interest to return to Nigeria with a view to offering their expertise in diverse fields for the growth of the country. 

The PDP chairman said he was pleased with the resolve by Nigerians in the Diaspora to henceforth put Nigeria at the center of their considerations, as he expressed gladness on their desire to start looking homewards.

Tukur told the professionals who are mostly on medical, information technology and Engineering lines that the PDP has always been in pursuit of reforms to make it stronger as the ruling party. He said a stronger PDP would always produce a stronger national leadership, and hence, a more vibrant economy.