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Tag: Makarfi

  • PDP crisis: Makarfi under pressure to step down, withdraw appeal

    PDP crisis: Makarfi under pressure to step down, withdraw appeal

    •Ex-Kaduna Gov may head convention committee
    •Jonathan didn’t ask him to step down, says Adeyeye
    •State excos to be harmonised

    Pressure is mounting on the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, to step down and withdraw all cases instituted against the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party.
    This, according to an investigation, is the immediate fallout of the intervention of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the crisis and his parley with PDP governors and other party stakeholders on the way out of the crisis that has torn the party into two.
    Multiple party sources told The Nation that top PDP members have been advising Makarfi to relinquish his position and to allow Sheriff organise the national convention that will give birth to a new leadership for the party as recently agreed by stakeholders.
    The proposal for Makarfi to step down, sources said, was broached at interactive sessions between party chieftains and the recently constituted reconciliation committee during the week.
    Present at the meetings were PDP governors who are the backbone of support for Makarfi.
    Embedded in the deal is the appointment of the former Kaduna State governor as chairman of the convention committee.
    Sheriff has repeatedly said that he will step down once the national convention takes place.
    It is also proposed that the reconciliation committee will harmonize the structures of the two factions as a way of ensuring that delegates for the planned convention represent all interests and factions.
    The PDP Reconciliation Committee is headed by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, who said during the week that the solution to the PDP crisis lies in adopting a political approach.
    He said the committee is prepared for such an approach.
    He gave no details.
    The committee also comprises Senator Ibrahim Mantu as deputy chairman and Senator Joshua Lidani as secretary.
    Sources said yesterday that pressure on Makarfi to step down is part of the effort.
    The Nation learnt that an earlier plan to have both Sheriff and Makarfi quit may have been jettisoned following what some sources described as superior arguments at subsequent parleys.
    It was gathered that the need to avoid violating the recent court judgements, as well as avoiding having to enthrone another caretaker committee, largely informed the new move.
    In addition to stepping down from his position as head of the controversial caretaker committee of PDP, Makarfi and his faction are expected to withdraw all pending cases in court, especially the appeal against the recent ruling of the Court of Appeal which pronounced Sheriff as the authentic chairman of the party.
    While it is unclear whether the former Kaduna State governor is agreeable to the proposal, sources suggest that some of his backers, including the PDP governors and members of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), may have bought into the idea as the best way out of the PDP crisis.
    “It is true that Makarfi is being talked into agreeing to step down and allowing Sheriff to conduct the proposed convention that will usher in a new leadership for the party,” one source said.
    “The new leadership however, as agreed by stakeholders, must be all embracing and non-factional. It has also been agreed that both factions will contribute equally to all committees and other logistics that will lead to the said convention.
    “The initial idea that both leaders should quit was shelved following the emergence of superior arguments against it. In the process of finding a lasting peace to the crisis in PDP, many meetings have been held. Many will still be held until we achieve our aim which is to resolve all differences and put PDP back on the right track.
    “Those opposed to the initial idea warned that anything we want to do must not contravene any law of the land or any subsisting court judgement. It was also observed that having the two of them leave office will warrant the enthronement of another leadership structure, be it caretaker committee or whatever. This is another thing we want to avoid.”
    It was also gathered that on the strength of the last Court of Appeal’s judgement stakeholders are of the opinion that it is better to allow Sheriff conduct the convention “under strict moderation by the party’s reconciliation committee and other stakeholders.”
    Another party source said:” it was reasonably argued and agreed upon by our leaders that it may be in the best interest of the party to allow Senator Sheriff remain in office to conduct the convention and usher in a new leadership that will be all encompassing, for our party.
    “We realized there is no need to create a vacuum or a new body that may again be faulted by the law of the land, thereby leading to another crisis.
    “And since the last judgement endorsed Sheriff, it is safe to work with him towards achieving our aims of a clean slate and a new beginning for PDP. Sheriff himself is willing to leave and give way to a new leadership. He has promised to conduct an all inclusive convention where he will not be seeking re-election.”
    Party chieftains who do not want to be named confirmed that the new deal is in continuation of Jonathan’s proposed political solution which has been embraced by all the PDP governors and the majority of the party’s leading chieftains, including members of the BoT and the party’s national assembly caucus.
    Meanwhile, it is expected that the state executive committees of the two factions will have to be harmonized by the reconciliation committee before the planned convention.
    This, sources according to sources, is to prevent any controversy over the status of delegates going to the convention from the various states.
    “It is actually the issue of how to handle the fictionalised state executive committees that is the biggest challenge now.
    “Don’t forget that nearly all the states across the country have factional leaderships supporting either Makarfi or Sheriff. It is how well we are able to harmonise these that will determine how easy the new deal will sail through.”
    However, the spokesman for the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye has denied reports that former President Goodluck Jonathan asked Makarfi to step down.
    “It’s not true that former President Jonathan asked Makarfi to step down for Sheriff to conduct a convention. What convention is Sheriff going to conduct?” Adeyeye said by phone yesterday.
    “I spoke with Makarfi this morning (Saturday morning) and he would have told me if it’s true that former President Jonathan asked him to step down.
    “Sheriff can’t organise any convention because he is not his own man. He is being controlled by external forces clearly outside the PDP so he can’t convince nobody of any genuine intention to organise a convention.”
    The former minister of state for works said the caretaker committee and all the critical organs of the party are determined to pursue the cross appeal against Sheriff pending before the Supreme Court.
    But he said this is without prejudice to the ongoing reconciliation efforts being spearheaded by Dr. Jonathan.
    He said:”We have resolved to pursue our case at the Supreme Court to a logical conclusion. This is without prejudice to the ongoing reconciliation efforts.
    “If we eventually resolve the matter amicably, then we move forward from there. But it would involve all the critical organs and all stakeholders within the PDP.
    “We want people to realise the fact that this is not a personal battle of any individual in the party. It’s a collective struggle that must be seen to a logical conclusion,” Adeyeye said.

  • PDP leadership crisis: Who is behind Sheriff, Makarfi?

    PDP leadership crisis: Who is behind Sheriff, Makarfi?

    Court decisions notwithstanding, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are still divided over the authentic leader of the main opposition party. Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, uncovers the supporters of each of the two contending national chairmen.

    Who is on our side? That seems to be the most important question now engaging the attention of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi and their supporters as the two gladiators step up their battle for the leadership of the former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Prominent and not so prominent members of the party in the 36 states are queuing up behind their choice between the two factions.

    The state branches of the party have  also been making their voices heard on whose  side they are although that does not  tell all the story as many of the state branches themselves are divided.

    Despite the Court of Appeal’s decision confirming Sheriff as the rightful National Chairman of the party, state governors, elected on the platform of the party and the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, have pitched their tents with Makarfi, who also has the backing of ministers in the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    However, The Nation gathered that Sheriff is “not without government’s support in  Gombe and  Taraba states,” especially after the Court of Appeal’s verdict.

    The situation is no less delicate in the National Assembly where the majority of the members elected on the platform of the party are supporting Makarfi.

    While the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Leo Ogor, named Makarfi as the rightful leader of the party, a member from Ogun State, Hon. Adesegun Adekoya, said Sheriff, having won in the court, is the National Chairman of PDP.

    Reacting to reports that the PDP caucus under his leadership is factionalized on account of the crisis in the party, Ogor told The Nation that there is no division within the caucus.

    “Yes, some people are merely seeking attention with the issue you raised. But that is not enough for you to say there is crack in the caucus,” he said in response to a question.

    He added: “What you are seeing should be expected. Whenever there is a new development, some people will always want to seek attention by causing trouble.

    “We are not surprised. What is important is for you to know that the caucus is made up of over a hundred honorable members of the National Assembly elected on the platform of our party, the PDP.

    “The caucus met and took a position. We all agreed that Makarfi is the one in charge of affairs of the PDP and we are with him. So, if we now have a few people raising their voices high against a collective decision of our caucus, it simply means they are against the majority and should not be taken serious. All these people talking about cracks or division should be ignored.”

    Senator Ben Bruce from Bayelsa State is one of the minority members of the National Assembly backing  Sheriff as the legitimate leader of the party.

    “I am supporting Ali Modu Sheriff because it is the only way to preserve the party,” Bruce said.

    “We will work with Ali Modu Sheriff and go to a convention. Right now, PDP is on a course towards destruction and abiding by the judgement of the court is the only thing that can save us.

    “I therefore call for an end to the fighting. And I am supporting Ali Modu Sheriff because it is the only way to preserve the party. Right now, what Nigeria has is a one-party state, there is no opposition. Enough is enough.

    “This is the time for PDP to unite, we are a formidable force.”

    With Makarfi in the Caretaker Committee are Senator Ben Obi, who is the Secretary of the faction, Senator Odion Ugbesia, Senator Abdul Ningi, Barrister Kevin Usman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Mrs. Aisha Aliyu.

    Also with him are Ekiti, Ondo, Rivers, Delta, Cross Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi States chapters.

    This is largely on the strength of the support the faction enjoys from the serving governors of these states.

    The Makarfi faction is also enjoying the support of the party’s Board of Trustees. The chairman of the board, Senator Walid Jibril, has been very consistent in rejecting Sheriff.

    Ex-Senate President Adolphus Wabara, Senator Ahmadu Alli, Inna Ciroma, Bode George and many others are strongly with Makarfi.

    With Sheriff are Dr. Cairo Ojuogbo, who is Deputy Chairman, Professor Wale Oladipo, who is National Secretary, Benard Mikko , Acting National Publicity Secretary, Adewole Adeyanju, Financial Secretary and Dennis Alonge-Niyi, National Youth Leader.

    While the Sheriff faction cannot boast of enjoying the open support of any of the PDP governors, there are indications that it is not without the sympathy of one or two of the state helmsmen, especially after its string of judicial victories.

    “In Gombe and Taraba states, the Sheriff faction is not without government’s support. This is largely because the party in those two states is more open to finding solution to the whole crisis than supporting any of the factions,” a source said.

    Even the BoT is not 100 percent with Makarfi. Former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, leads the pack of BoT who are with Sheriff.

    The rest are Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, Alhaji Mohammed Abba Gana and Senator Chris Anyanwu. The faction is also said to be enjoying the support of some former ministers in the immediate past administration.

    The zones

    The two factions command a sizeable followership in the South-West amongst party chieftains.

    While the party chairmen in five of the six states in the zone recently paid a solidarity visit to Sheriff, most of the notable leaders of the party in the zone prefer to be counted on the side of Makarfi.

    These include Chief Bode George, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, as well as the only PDP governor in the zone, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

    Other political bigwigs in the zone supporting the Makarfi faction are Prince Iyiola Omisore, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, Sen. Adesewe Ogunlewe, Jumoke Akinjide, Mulikat Akande, Jumoke Akindele, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, Segun Adegoke, Doyin Okupe , Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Engr. Jide Adeniji, Dr. Saka Balogun, Prof Taoheed Adedoja and Engr. Clement Faboyede.

    Also in this category are Elder Joju Fadairo, Akogun Bisi Jinadu, Engr Bashir Awotorebo, Senator Adeseun Ayoade, Barr. Ojo Williams, Barr. Niyi Owolade, Chief Folorunso Akintade, Barr. Gboyega Oguntuwase and Chief Bola Olu-Ojo.

    Factional South-West Zonal Chairman, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, and Senator Buruji Kashamu are the commanders of the Sheriff forces in the region.

    The faction, it was learnt, has the support of Shuaib Oyedokun, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, Pegba Otemolu, Prince Adekola Razaq, Senator Teslim Folarin. The faction however appears to be in firm control of the party in Ogun and Osun states, while it also boasts of factional members in the other South-West states.

    In the South-East states of Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi, the Makarfi faction is in firm control owing to the support it enjoys from the state governors. But in Anambra and Imo states, where the PDP is not in government, the party is factionalized and divided into camps loyal to the two factions.

    The situation has sparked a mass defection of PDP members to the rival All Progressives Congress (APC) in this zone.

    The scenario in the South-South is not different from what is happening in the South-East.

    The Makarfi faction has the support of the PDP governors of Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa.

    However, the situation is different in Edo State which is not under the control of the party.

    Here, the PDP is factionalized although the Makarfi faction loyal to Chief Tony Anenih is stronger in the state while the Sheriff faction has its men on the ground too.

    The bad blood generated by the last governorship primaries underlines how badly fragmented the party is in Edo State.

    There appears to be less interest in either of the factional chairmen among members of the party in the North-Central, North-East and North-West.

    Expectedly, the two men enjoy support in their home states (Kaduna for Makarfi and Borno for Sheriff), but beyond that, there seems to be no particular interest for any of the two leaders.

    “Maybe because the two gladiators are from the region, there is no much rancor over who should lead the party here in the North,” a party chieftain told The Nation.

    “Save for a few people who are directly involved, most of us are more interested in seeing the crisis resolved than pitching tents with either of the claimants. Don’t also forget that the party is struggling to win back its support base here in the north,” the source said.

    Hon. Adekoya, who represents Ijebu North/East/Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency in Ogun State, said the decision of the Court of Appeal has provided a lasting solution to the PDP crisis as many of the party’s chieftains have decided to be law abiding in their approach to the issue.

    The legislator, who belongs to the Kashamu faction of the party in Ogun State, said the Makarfi faction should accept the verdict in the interest of the party.

    “You can quote me anywhere, any day: the court has spoken,” he said.

    “Sheriff is the authentic chairman of our party. We are for Sheriff. As a lawmaker, I should not be a lawbreaker. All the people in my constituency, down to the last councillor, are for Sheriff. If you go to Osun State, Hon. Wole Oke is for Sheriff. Go and check in all the states, you will find out that many of us are for Sheriff.”

    But a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Bode George, disagrees, insisting that Makarfi was duly elected as the chairman of the party’s caretaker committee at a convention called by Sheriff himself. The PDP chieftain said Sheriff ceased to be chairman of the party after the said convention, in line with the rules of the party.

    His words: “Makarfi was duly elected as the caretaker committee chairman. Sheriff became the National Chairman of the party after his predecessor, Adamu Mu’azu.

    “The moment he convened a convention, he ceased to be the chairman. So, Sheriff has ceased to be the chairman by the virtue of that arrangement. This is the problem. I told him privately and publicly to step down.

    “As far as I am concerned, handing back the leadership of the party to Sheriff is a step backwards from repositioning the PDP. The judgment reminds me of the decimation of the old Action Group and that does not portend a good omen for democracy.”

    States not spared

    In Ogun State, there are two factions of the party, each of which supports Makarfi and Sheriff.

    Members of the party loyal to Senator Kashamu are supporters of the Chief Bayo Dayo-led faction. This faction is the more visible than the other.

    Pegba Otemolu, Semiu Shodipo, Fatai Adeyanju, Segun Seriki, Daisi Akitan, and Bowale Solaja among others are other leading lights of the Sheriff faction of the PDP in the state.

    The faction, which occupies the state secretariat of the party in Abeokuta, the state capital, is locked in a battle with the other faction loyal to the Makarfi camp.

    The Makarfi faction in the state is chaired by Sikirulai Ogundele and operates from the secretariat of the party in another part of the city.  It is the faction patronized by Daniel, Adebutu and many other chieftains of the party, including the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and Tolu Bankole.

    In Ekiti, the party is divided into two factions loyal to Fayose and Makanjuola Ogundipe, the governor and zonal chairman respectively. While the Fayose faction is understandably more visible, owing to government patronage and sentiments, the other faction has remained relentless in its claim to being the authentic leadership of the party in the state, especially so after it was declared the authentic executive council by a high court recently .

    The Fayose faction, which originally started out as a support base for Senator Sheriff as the national chairman of the party, is now loyal to the Makarfi camp at the national level, while the Ogundipe faction remains committed to its initial support for Sheriff. Both Fayose and Ogundipe, alongside their supporters, have engaged in many face-offs since the party became fictionalized in the state.

    In Osun, the Makarfi faction is led by Senator Iyiola Omisore, gubernatorial candidate of the party in the last general election. He has in the camp the likes of the factional chairman of the party, Dr. Bayo Faforiji. The faction is the one operating from the state PDP secretariat located on Osogbo/Gbongan road in the state capital. The faction, according to observers of the party in the state, appears to be the more active.

    The other camp is led by the National Secretary of the Sheriff-led faction of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo and the factional Chairman of the party in the State, Mr. Soji Adagunodo. Also in this faction are the immediate past Chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, as well as Secretary of Adagunodo-led executive, Bola Ajao.

    In Lagos State, the Makarfi faction, led by Bode George, is the more visible but another faction of the party in the state has also been consistent in its claim to authenticity.

    It is obvious that the crisis at the national level is seriously affecting the state chapter as the two factions remain at dagger drawn in the struggle for the soul of the party in the state.

    The Makarfi faction in the state is led by Moshood Salvador while the Sheriff faction has Segun Adewale as its chairman. The two factions, for months, have engaged each other in an unending war of words with no sign of improvement in their relationship. While most of the party bigwigs led by Bode George are with the Salvador group, Adewale appears to be undaunted in his determination to remain in charge.

    Following a bloody clash by the factions at the state secretariat of the party in Ikeja, the premises were sealed off by the police and both factions have been operating from different locations in the city. Adewale has as his secretary, Shina Ladeinde. But the lawmaker representing Ajeromi-Ifelodun Constituency in the National Assembly, Rita Orji, who was elected on the platform of the PDP, while speaking on the matter, said the party has no chairman in the state.

    She said those parading themselves as chairmen of the party are not recognized by the party. She hoped for a quick resolution of the crisis in time for the coming council polls in the state.

    In Imo State, the two factions are being led by former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha and former governor, Ikedi Ohakim. The two have been struggling for the soul of the troubled party for years. Consequently, the party is divided into two separate camps, made up of their respective supporters.

    Last year, the factions held parallel congresses and elected two sets of executives in the state.

    In Plateau State, the party has Makarfi and Sheriff factions. The party became fictionalized last year after Sheriff, upon his declaration as the authentic leader of the party by the court, sacked the then executives of the party in the state and inaugurated new ones. Also, while the old executives refused to go and pledged loyalty to the Makarfi faction, the new ones remained in office and are loyal to Sheriff.

  • Sheriff kicks as Makarfi, others form APDP

    Sheriff kicks as Makarfi, others form APDP

    Anxiety has hit the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the submission of an application to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the registration of a party named Advanced Peoples Democratic Party.

    The commission yesterday confirmed receipt of the application believed to have come from supporters of Senator Ahmed Makarfi,Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP.

    The Sheriff camp is kicking against the formation of the new party which it perceives as a  threat.

    Some PDP members loyal to the Ahmed Makarfi camp had wondered whether it might not be better for them to abandon the  party for Sheriff and his supporters in the aftermath of the recent verdict of the Court of Appeal recognising Sheriff as the rightful chairman of the party.

    The court also sacked the Caretaker Committee headed by Makarfi.

    The Deputy National Chairman to Sheriff, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, yesterday called moves to register  the Advanced PDP as  Advanced Free Fraud.

    Contacted yesterday on the Advanced PDP application, INEC’s spokesman, Mr. Nick Dazang said:”The Commission has received not less than 70 applications from associations seeking registration and it is processing them.

    “The association you mentioned must be one of them.”

    However, Dazang did not disclose the criteria to be used or the faction’s chance of succeeding.

    The Nation gathered that some members of the Makarfi faction of the PDP are trying to convince others of the need to form a new political party.

    “Right from the beginning, Sheriff was a big mistake; he did eight years as governor on a party platform opposed to PDP and he has never been known for the kind of brotherly compromise that our people are expecting, “ a PDP chieftain said yesterday in Abuja.

    In a telephone chat yesterday,  Dr. Ojougboh  said :”The PDP is a lawful franchise and we won’t associate with fraud.”

    He asked  PDP members and the general public not to “have anything to do with the so called Advanced PDP.”

    Attempts to get the reaction of the spokesman of the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye proved abortive.

    Our correspondent’s repeated calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect and he did not reply to the SMS message in respect of the matter.

  • PDP crisis: Makarfi warns of breakdown of law and order

    PDP crisis: Makarfi warns of breakdown of law and order

    The blame game continued yesterday in the troubled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
    A faction of the main opposition blamed the reopening of its national secretariat for Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff on the police, which it accused of taking sides.
    Besides, the party accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of having a hand in its misfortune.
    The secretariat was sealed off by the police in June 2015 in the heat of the tussle between Sheriff and the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee of the PDP for the control of the party.
    However, acting on the strength of the judgment by the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal that affirmed Sheriff as National Chairman, the police last Thursday reopened the secretariat for Sheriff and his team.
    But the Makarfi camp has warned that the police action could cause a breakdown of law and order, adding that the police acted in bad faith by allowing Sheriff access to the facility.
    At a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, the spokesman for the Makarfi camp, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the police chose to obey the law only when it favoured Sheriff.
    Adeyeye lamented that the police that refused to reopen the secretariat for the Makarfi camp when it won the case against Sheriff at the Federal High Court, reopened the building for Sheriff for winning at the appellate court.
    Apparently in sympathy with the Makarfi camp, a group of women party members, staged a protest at the secretariat to denounce  the reopening of the facility.
    The workers stayed away from the office, in solidarity with the Makarfi group, which they insisted remained the authentic leaders of the party.
    Adeyeye said the Makarfi camp had already filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the Appeal Court judgment and such, the police should ensure that the secretariat remained sealed until the Supreme Court delivers judgment on the matter.
    “In the light of the above, we are calling on the police and the general public and lovers of peace and democracy to ask Senator Sheriff and co. to respect the on-going litigation processes.
    “The police should ensure that Sheriff and co. do not occupy the national secretariat in order to avoid breakdown of law and order. We have noticed that the police have taken sides in this matter, perhaps because of directives from the APC, but a stitch in time saves nine.”
    Accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of complicity in favouring Sheriff, the Makarfi camp said the police and the APC had undermined the rule of law.
    Deploring what he described as forceful takeover of the secretariat, Adeyeye said the keys to the main entrance to the building were given to the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, when the  secretariat was sealed off.
    “We know that the keys to the secretariat are still with the BoT but Sheriff entered by breaking the doors, in an action totally unbecoming of a person who has been governor of a state, senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and also claiming to be a National Chairman of a major political party.  We therefore demand that Senator Sheriff and co. vacate the national secretariat immediately”, Adeyeye added.
    Accusing the APC and some of its chieftains of acting hand-in-glove with Sheriff, Adeyeye alleged plots by some government officials to support Sheriff through financial inducements.
    He said: “For the record, just last week, the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, gave unsolicited advice that we should support Senator Sheriff. That is one instance of their meddlesomeness in the PDP affairs.
    “There is no doubt that Okorocha and co. are happy that their man won at the Appeal Court but very much afraid that he could lose at the Supreme Court.”
    “Also, we have it on good authority that the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has deployed his former Abuja Liaison Officer who was a former Intermediate Officer of the party, Mr. John Enebeli, among others, to lure some members of staff in support of Senator Sheriff by promising them huge sums of money to offset their outstanding allowances.
    “Senator Sheriff is equally luring some employees on the same jumbo promise. Let him recall that he made the same promise when he first assumed office only to dash the hope of the hapless employees.”
    The rival Makarfi camp also alleged plans by Sheriff to receive faceless groups purporting to be executive committees of state chapters and declaring support for the party chairman.
    According to the aggrieved group, the plot is meant to deceive unsuspecting party members and members of the public into believing that Sheriff has gained acceptance of the party’s organs.
    “In the days ahead, the public will be treated to a show of pre-arranged solidarity visits by illegal or non-existent state excos.”
    But in a swift reaction, a member of the Sheriff team, Dr. Ahmed Gulak, asked the Makarfi camp to stop blackmailing the Supreme Court ahead of the hearing of the appeal.
    Also addressing the media yesterday on behalf of Sheriff, Gulak said the two parties had agreed not to pursue the case to the Supreme Court, insisting that there was an agreement to allow the case terminate at the Court of Appeal.
    According to the ex-presidential adviser, the police sealed off the secretariat in 2016 on request from both factions, to avoid breakdown of law and order.
    Gulak said: “Both parties agreed that in order to pursue genuine  reconciliation, nobody should pursue the case again in the Supreme Court, because even if you get court victory you still need the people. So that we can have a convention where national officers will be elected.
    “Supreme Court belongs to all Nigerians. They said they will get judgment from Supreme Court as if it is their institution. You don’t grandstand and blackmail the Supreme Court.
    “If they are going to the Supreme Court, they should be calm. The law does not see your face. It is not a popularity contest; the law is the law.
    Gulak observed that by virtue of the last judgement of the appellate court, all actions taken by the Makarfi caretaker committee remained illegal.
    “Sheriff is still the chairman. He will lead the National Working Committee (NWC) to hold a unity convention. This party is bigger than everybody,” Gulak added.
    He admitted that the protracted crisis had taken a toll on the stability of the party, adding that too much energy had been dissipated on internal squabbles.

  • PDP crisis: Makarfi warns of breakdown of law and order

    The reopening of the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, has continued to deepen the leadership crisis rocking the party.

    The secretariat was sealed off by the police in June 2016 at the heat of the tussle between Sheriff and the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee of the PDP for the control of the party.

    However, acting on the strength of the judgment by the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal that affirmed Sheriff as National Chairman, the police last Thursday reopened the secretariat for Sheriff and his team.

    But the Makarfi camp has warned the action of the police was a capable of causing a breakdown of law and order, adding that the police acted in bad faith by allowing Sheriff access to the facility.

    At a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, the spokesman of the Makarfi camp, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the police chose to obey the law only when it favoured Sheriff.

    Adeyeye lamented that the same police that refused to reopen the secretariat for the Makarfi camp when it won the same case against Sheriff at the Federal High Court, has now turned around to reopen the building for Sheriff for winning at the appellate court.

    Apparently in sympathy for the Makarfi camp, a group of women party members on Monday, staged a protest at the party secretariat to denounce the reopening of the facility to Sheriff.

    Similarly, the entire secretariat workers have also stayed away from the party office, in solidarity with the Makarfi group, which they insisted, remained the authentic leaders of the party.

    Adeyeye said the Makarfi camp has already filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the Appeal Court judgment and such, the police ensure that the secretariat remained sealed until the Supreme Court delivers judgment on the matter.

    “In the light of the above, we are calling on the police and the general public and lovers of peace and democracy to ask Senator Sheriff and co to respect the on-going litigation processes.”

     

  • PDP has been bashed, some due to our mistakes – Makarfi

    PDP has been bashed, some due to our mistakes – Makarfi

    Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who lost to his rival, Senator Modu Sheriff, at the last Appeal Court ruling in the prolonged leadership contention of the party, in this exclusive interview in Kaduna, told The Nation’s Abdulgafar Alabelewe his latest plans and efforts to save PDP. Excerpts

    YOU have resolved to appeal the last Friday’s Appeal Court judgement, which ruled in favour of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff in the Supreme Court, why? First of all, why respecting their lordships and the view they expressed, it is our constitutional right to appeal any judgement that we do not subscribe to, especially if it is assessed and we find out that we have a strong ground to appeal. And the issue that has been explained to us is that, two, out of the three justices basically took a position that, holding the convention was a breach of two orders of court. One in Abuja, one in Port-Harcourt and those orders of court which indicated that the tenure of some officials, some will lapse in 2017 and some in 2018 and that, holding convention was a breach of those court orders.

    But, we have been advised long before we even went to court that, those matters have to do with elections, but it did not prevent convention from taking place. No any subsisting order says we should not hold convention and when you look at the PDP constitution, you will discover that power of convention is not limited to election, because convention can dissolve the party itself. Convention can suspend that constitution and take whatever decision it wants to take. Convention can promulgate a completely new constitution. Convention can elect and can remove. So, if convention, which was not stopped by any order from holding, removed, and we are not asked not to remove, we were only asked not to elect. There is a difference between election and removal.

    Now, in our opinion and opinion of our lawyers, the judgement was flopped, because we are not in breach of orders of the court. The dissenting judgement went along this line; that we are not in breach of that order and any order. Also the INEC report covering that convention, of which we have a certified copy, also indicated that we were not in breach of any court order.

    So, you see, we have strong ground to actually make an appeal. Now, that is where we are and as I said, we are concerned not just as a party; we are concerned for democracy. Because any attempt to curb the power of convention, we are saying bye-bye to democracy, because that is the supreme body of any political party and its power should not be directly and indirectly curbed by any court of law.

    What if the Supreme Court verdict also comes out in favour of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff?

    If that happens, it will be sad and it will be bad for democracy; that is all. But, having said that, even before the Port-Harcourt judgement, as political actors, we have also been looking at alternatives, because as politicians, we are not going to stop doing politics, but we will not also accept imposition of any kind, but we will not go in breach of what the court will say.

    As you mentioned earlier, you said Sheriff got judgement in his favour, fine but is he himself complying with the court judgement? He is not. Because what the court judgment said is that the party should revert to status quo before May 21. Status quo before May 21st; who was the Deputy National Chairman? Was it not Secondus? Olisa Metuh was the Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha, Organising Secretary and others. But, has he returned them? Rather, he is still parading himself and Cairo as Deputy National Chairman. Was he the deputy before 21 May? He is talking about planning a convention in two months’ time. That also is a breach of the Port-Harcourt judgement, because the Port- Harcourt judgement said there are some certain orders that the tenure of some officials will lapse sometimes in 2017 and some in 2018. So, convention to elect which offices, if that is the whole basis of the Port-Harcourt giving him judgement.

    So, even without the Supreme Court setting aside the Port-Harcourt judgement, you can’t even go for convention, you can only when the tenure of the three officers lapses, elect them and then you go for convention when the tenure of the rest 18 officers lapses and then you elect them. You can’t hold an all- inclusive convention; that is what the Port-Harcourt judgement is saying. But, that is what they are talking about. So, who is respecting the court position? We respect the court position, but we don’t accept it and that is why we are appealing.

    You talked about imposition of candidate, are you insinuating that Ali Modu Sheriff was imposed on the party?

    You see, democracy is about the will of the. The will of the majority has been loud and clear that they don’t want him to lead them. And we went for convention and a decision was taken. If any technicality is used to say that the majority must live by what they don’t accept, that is imposition. Secondly, two days ago or so, Governor of Imo State, Okorocha issued a press statement, condemning us, but praising and supporting Ali Sheriff. He is the Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum. What business has he got to do with PDP that he should take side? So, you can see the basis of that allegation that he is being imposed on the party for a purpose, otherwise, why should a serving APC governor and Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum get involved in PDP internal affairs?

    You talked about alternative plan if the Supreme Court doesn’t rule in your favour, what alternative are you considering?

    Let us wait for that time.

    Okay, while people from your camp accused Sheriff of being imposed by the ruling party, his loyalists have equally alleged that you are also being used. How will you react to this?

    By who? We have said who is using him, who has come out to support him. But, for me, who has come out to support me? Who has even come out to congratulate me? There is another presidential aide who congratulated Sheriff on Twitter when he won the court case. But, who has been heard, apart from PDP people, supporting me? Let them come out and say it. For us, theirs is obvious, everybody has seen it.

    Looking at the fact that both of you have governed your respective states, both of you have been Senators, why do you think you have a better claim to the leadership of the PDP than Senator Ali Modu Sheriff?

    I don’t have a better claim. Even at the last meeting, we held in Abuja last week, not just me, the Caretaker Committee volunteered that, if there is any legal impediment for us to function, we are prepared to handover to the Board of Trustees for it to administer the party, pending the resolution in court or anyhow. If we can offer this, it means that we are not sit-tight people. But, of course the meeting said it noted it, but that is not the issue now; anything to further cause confusion at the moment must not come.

    Look, even before the last meeting, several times, the Caretaker Committee had offered that it was prepared to give way and not to sit tight. But, when we give way, we want to give way in a situation where the problems will be solved, not in a situation where the problem will be compounded.

    Some would be asking, what is it that you want to do differently from what SAS is doing?

    We have heard them, some people have told us informally that there should be sharing of position. But, I am a democrat, I don’t believe in sharing positions; I believe that, a level playing field should be created where anybody seeking any office can freely seek for that office. When you begin to share, you begin to impose. Maybe, you can set up joint committee that is representative of both sides, that will conduct the convention, the primary and everything, so that we can all make sure that there is a level playing field for anybody seeking for any office from whatever side you are coming from; you can go out there and canvass for support, but not to begin by saying, no, you take this position for so, so person. Is that democratic? Is that how to rebrand PDP? Is that how to make PDP acceptable to the people? Was it not imposition that brought us to where we are? Do we continue with imposition? That is where the difference between us is.

    Should he be ready to collapse his structure into your Caretaker Committee, will you be ready to work with him?

    As it is, except the Supreme Court rules in favour of the Caretaker Committee, that is not even something you can talk about. If the Supreme Court rules in our favour and in the spirit of reconciliation, that is an issue to be looked at.

    Look, punitive measure is not what we are contemplating. Reconciliation is the key word, but the reconciliation must be genuine reconciliation and one that can stand the test of time; the reconciliation that cannot be challenged legally. But if we try to cut corners, just the way Sheriff has been to several courts, other people can go to court too. So, whatever we do, we should learn from our experiences and not create a situation where some other aggrieved people will hold the party to ransom by going to court to challenge our actions again.

    PDP governors seem to be more comfortable with you than Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, why are they backing you?

    I don’t really know; I have not taken census of that. But those who are supporting me are only reasonable, they know, that if I am required to go now, I will not fight to stay, which is different from him. Do you get the point? They know that my position is, let us do things the right way at the right moment, in such a way that it will not hurt the party.

    Why do you think he is fighting hard, do you think it is in the interest of the party, or he has ulterior motive?

    Mixed grill, mixed grill. He has his own interest and ambition as he is free to have; we all are free to have. Secondly, the fact that even if it is just mere suspicion, but the fact that APC henchmen have started coming out in his defense is a clear testimony to the fact that he is not in control of his own affairs. And then, there are those PDP members surrounding him, who have localised interests; as long as their localised interests are not done the way they want, they will not subscribe to any peace. I don’t have such people, but he has them. Maybe, even if he wants to make peace, there may be forces that may make it more difficult for him to make peace, I don’t know, maybe he can answer this.

    How comfortable are you with his latest romance with former President Goodluck Jonathan?

    What romance?  Maybe I even see former President Jonathan more than he does, but I don’t come out to publicise that I have met him, I have discussed this and that, that is disrespectful. You don’t meet leaders and come out to publicise what you have discussed with them. For your information, before he met Jonathan, I met him and I have met him after that, but why do I come out and tell the world that I just met President Jonathan and we discussed ABCD….? The former President and I know what we discussed and that is our internal affairs and we know what to do.

    Don’t you think PDP under Senator Ali Sheriff has been able to form a formidable opposition?

    It has not, certainly not. Have you ever heard Sheriff and his group ever coming out to condemn anything the government has done wrongly? Anytime you hear something, it is from our own group. So, if it is truly an opposition, why is it that all their condemnations are on us, not any government policy or action?

    What do you think all these crises portend for the PDP ahead of 2019?

    Well, whatever the outcome, PDP must re-organise, must rebrand and must re-strategize. We have been bashed, some due to our own mistakes, but we have been bashed from all sides. Our mistakes are there, which we acknowledge, which we are working hard to correct, some we have corrected and we will correct the rest. We have interferences that are prolonging our internal crises, which we hope we will overcome.

    My plea is that the Supreme Court should do justice, justice that is good for democracy. Look, if opposition is killed and you end up by omission or commission to create a one party state, it will be terrible for this country. If you are safe today, you may not be safe tomorrow, whether you are judiciary, whether you are a journalist, whether you are a civil society organisation or whatever you may be. It is in the interest of this country that you have a formidable opposition.

  • Police, PDP and Makarfi faction

    Police, PDP and Makarfi faction

    FORMER president Goodluck Jonathan last Monday affirmed once again why he has such a difficult relationship with the concept of body language. While receiving the factional leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the enigmatic Ali Modu Sheriff in Abuja, Dr Jonathan spoke effusively and enthusiastically about his guest and the party, and exuded a body language that seemed to show that he had endorsed the elated and triumphant factional leader who visited him barely three days after the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt decided the case of the disputed leadership of the party. It was a smart move by Senator Sheriff, and Dr Jonathan’s enthusiasm seemed to suggest to the uninitiated that the move paid off. Yet there was nothing in the former president’s statement, including his description of Senator Sheriff as ‘my chairman’, that gave the definitive endorsement the press celebrated on their front pages on Tuesday.

    Dr Jonathan will henceforth be more cautious in the manner he brokers peace between the PDP factions coveting his attention and endorsement. He will watch his words, which sometimes appear imprecise and equivocatory, and he will monitor his famous body language, a concept that gave him nightmares when he was president and was noted for his vacillations. Senator Sheriff senses the shrinking number of his faction’s supporters; he will therefore court favour from everywhere with as much aggression as his rotund frame and convivial outlook can elicit. Senator Makarfi, who is also a former governor, of Kaduna State no less, senses the PDP majority is in bed with him despite the setback of last Friday in Port Harcourt. He will thus be less desperate and more rest assured, but perhaps a tad more vulnerable.

    Responding to allegations of deliberately instigating rebellion in the PDP in a classic and partisan deployment of divide and rule tactics, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has quickly distanced itself from the opposition party’s internal strife. So, too, has Dr Jonathan. Alarmed that he was becoming embroiled in the crisis rather than inspiring reconciliation in consonance with his status, the former president pointedly told the media that his open hands and open mind, which he had and would still extend to Senator Makarfi as well, in no way suggested he had taken sides. In the absence of former president Olusegun Obasanjo in the PDP, Dr Jonathan is probably the most important personality in the party today, despite his reputation being diminished by the astonishing disclosures of corruption under his watch. Every PDP combatant will desperately court him, sometimes unfairly undercutting one another.

    It is therefore shocking that on a matter in which eminent Nigerians and PDP big wigs were tiptoeing, the police have proved to be rather predictable, brusque and old fashioned. In their response to the Makarfi faction’s  decision to meet at the International Conference Centre in Abuja to review their next line of action on the Appeal Court judgement, the police simply went and barricaded the place. They cited the need to forestall a breakdown of law and order, and denounced media reports that suggested they deliberately targeted the Makarfi faction as a part of the agenda to prop up the Sheriff faction.

    Hear the police rationalisation: “Credible Intelligence at the disposal of the FCT Police Command indicated that the two factions i.e. the Ahmed Makarfi Group and the Ali Modu Sheriff Group scheduled to hold their meetings at the International Conference Centre (ICC) today (Monday) and this can lead to serious clash and breach of public peace. The Command did not close down the International conference Centre nor bar the Makarfi faction of PDP from using the ICC for meeting as alleged in the report but intervened to prevent a breakdown of law and order by advising the management of the ICC not to allow any of the group to use the place for any meeting. However, the Command provided visible security for the Ahmed Makarfi Group when they relocated to Ekiti State Government lodge in Asokoro, Abuja despite not been informed.”

    Assuming it was possible for the management of the conference centre to book the hall for two groups simultaneously, a feat indescribably difficult even for an incompetent manager, surely the police response could be much better and far more constructive. Until the PDP resolves its internal schism, there will of course be more disagreements and strife within the party in the coming weeks and months. The responses of law enforcement agencies will naturally come under scrutiny, and the public will judge whether they are been instinctively old fashioned and brutish, or whether, in particular, the police have not been surpassed in sophistication by other agencies in maintaining the law in a democracy.

  • Why PDP didn’t win 2015 election – Makarfi

    Why PDP didn’t win 2015 election – Makarfi

    The factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, on Friday said the party would have won the 2015 presidential election if it had fielded a northern candidate.

    Makarfi said the “gang up” by the north against the PDP would not have been possible if the party had presented a northern presidential candidate.

    He stated that the party also became too comfortable and stopped communicating with the people to know what they wanted, adding that made it possible for propaganda to be used against the party.

    He also said imposition of candidates was partly responsible for the failure and crisis in the party and should not be allowed to continue.

    The ex- Kaduna governor said, “PDP would have won the 2015 presidential election straight away with a northern candidate.

    “The reason is that, it would have been impossible to make an issue out of this North and South thing. We would have broken the North’s gang up so to say against the PDP.

    “Again, we became too comfortable. A little bit of arrogance sometimes. We were not communicating well with the people. Because we were not communicating well, we failed to get what the people were saying, and of course, that made it easier for propaganda to be used against us. And that propaganda went deep that we couldn’t do anything again.”

  • Makarfi furious as Sheriff takes over PDP secretariat

    Makarfi furious as Sheriff takes over PDP secretariat

    The police yesterday reopened the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for National Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff.

    But that seemed to have escalated the main opposition party’s leadership crisis. The Ahmed Makarfi faction called on the police to flush out Sheriff. He should wait for the legal battle for the party’s control to end, the faction said.

    Sheriff, accompanied by some members of his National Working Committee (NWC) and a retinue of aides and supporters, arrived at the secretariat at 6pm.

    With him were Senator Buruji Kashamu; Deputy National Chairman Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; National Secretary Prof. Wale Oladipo and National Auditor Adewole Adeyanju.

    Sheriff went straight to his office where  he spent about 15 minutes. It was dusty.

    He said he only came to access the situation. He plans to resume work on Tuesday.

     ”We came to see what renovation and cleaning to be done. While that is going on, we will continue with our consultation. We will do everything humanly possible to ensure that nobody is victimised for holding different opinions,” Sheriff said.

    He reiterated his resolve to take the party back to the people at the grassroots, adding that “it is not enough for some people to sit in Abuja here and say they want to choose party leaders for the people in the village”.

    The secretariat was sealed off in June 2015, at the peak of a fierce leadership tussle between Sheriff and the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee.

    All the critical organs of the party had taken sides with the Makarfi committee and the combatants fought from one court to the other for the control of the party.

    However, the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal last Friday, pronounced Sheriff the authentic chairman of the party.

    The Makarfi camp has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling of the appellate court.

    It yesterday accused Sheriff of entering the secretariat “illegally”.

    A statement by the spokesman of the Makarfi faction, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said:

    “As far as we are concerned, the forcible entry of Ali Modu-Sheriff and his team into the party secretariat is illegal and most unwelcomed.

    “We say this because the keys to the secretariat are with the Board of Trustees (BoT) and we have checked with them, and can confirm that the keys were not handed over to Sheriff or any of his followers.

    “The implication of this was that he broke into the secretariat which is a criminal offence.

    “We also expected that Modu-Sheriff should have waited for the conclusion of the appeal we filed at the Supreme Court before he forced himself in just like we held on when we got court judgement favouring us last year.

    “We are condemning his action in totality and we view it as an affront on the rule of law.

    “Given his act of illegality, we stated clearly that he should be held responsible for any loss of documents or damage to the property within the party secretariat.

    “The administrative staff as accounting officers, were not around to see the event happen, and as the custodians of the property of the party, they refused to participate in the illegal entry made by Ali Modu-Sheriff.

    “His action is provocative and is capable of causing another round of crisis in the party.

    “We advise him in his own interest, to vacate the secretariat immediately.

    “We also call on authorities of the Nigerian Police to prevent chaos by flushing Ali Modu-Sheriff and his team out of the PDP secretariat and let all parties wait for the judgement of the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land.”

  • PDP crisis: Makarfi kicks as Sheriff plans convention

    PDP crisis: Makarfi kicks as Sheriff plans convention

    Ali Modu Sheriff plans to quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chair’s seat after convening a national convention to elect new leaders.

    He yesterday pleaded with the Ahmed Makarfi Committee, the governors and other stakeholders to allow peace in the PDP. They should wait for the convention to change the leadership, Sheriff said.

    The former Borno State governor spoke in Abuja while receiving the party’s South West zonal leaders who visited him. He, however, did not state the convention’s date and venue.

    But the camp of the party’s Caretaker Committee, led by Senator Makarfi, appeared unmoved by Sheriff’s gesture.

    Makarfi camp spokesman Dayo Adeyeye retorted: “What convention and what is the time and date for the convention?”

    Adeyeye, who spoke with our correspondent on telephone, urged party members to be law-abiding and not to engage in any action that could further deepen the crisis that has troubled the main opposition party.

    Deputy National Chairman Dr. Cairo Ojougboh (Sheriff’s faction), said the date for the convention would be fixed after consultations with all stakeholders.

    “That is why we are calling everybody to come on board so that we can collectively put our house in order before the convention. We want to organise a convention that will be acceptable to all. We can’t achieve that without due consultation,” Ojougboh said.

    One of the prominent backers of the Caretaker Committee, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, canvassed a political solution to the party’s leadership crisis.

    Addressing the delegation, Sheriff said: “I am not here to remain as national chairman. I will be leaving as soon as we hold our national convention to elect a new set of leaders for the PDP.

    “I will make sure that we do a credible convention and that we elect leaders that are accepted by the grassroots; that is our mission. I will do that by the grace of God.”

    “If you like and you want to change something, wait for the convention and vote for the person you like. Nigerians and the world will see that you are validly elected by the PDP,” he said.

    The party chair urged the governors not to divide the party with their actions and utterances because they are “very important stakeholders” in the PDP.

    “The governors are very important, they are leaders of this party by their own right. They don’t have to divide the party”, he admonished.

    He  begged specifically Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose to respect the party, warning that prosperity would judge the governor by his utterances.

    Stressing that he would not join the governor in a verbal war, the party chairman urged him to devote his time and energy to rebuilding the PDP.

    He said his group and the Makarfi camp had earlier agreed to abide by the ruling of the Court of Appeal before the judgment was delivered, but expressed regrets that the Makarfi camp had reneged on the agreement.

    Said Sheriff: “Makarfi and I resolved that whatever is the outcome of the Appeal Court judgment, we would not destroy our party; that the judgment from the Court of Appeal would be the final judgment for everybody.

    “We spoke to all Nigerians about this; it is on record. But all the same, everybody has the right to do what he wants to do. But it is good to place on record what we had as agreement.

    “Now the Court of Appeal has made a pronouncement that the status quo ante be maintained, being that myself and members of the legally constituted party executive‎ that did not resign should still remain in office”.

    Sheriff said he had transmitted all legal documents to the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) for the reopening of the party’s national secretariat which he believed would be opened tomorrow.

    Speaking for the delegation, the zonal chairman, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, urged Sheriff not to use his position to victimise his opponents.

    He reminded the party chair that his legal victory was for all party members, particularly at the grassroots, assuring him that the zone would continue to support him.

    In a statement he circulated to the media yesterday, Adeniran said the reactions trailing Sheriff’s legal victory called for rethinking and reawakening among lovers of democracy, the rule of law and good governance.

    The former Education Minister, in the statement, which he personally signed, warned against recrimination and vitriolic attacks on any member of the party.

    The statement said: “This is an appeal to all PDP members nationwide that whatever our positions on the contending issues and views on the appeal court decision, this is not the time for mutual recrimination or vitriolic attacks on any of our members, grandstanding and self – serving rhetorics.

    “So much damage has been done to the PDP, democratic development and the rule of law that we should no longer fuel the combustible political packages designed by enemies of democracy from within and without.

    “As I have always maintained, a political solution remains the best option and our founding fathers and all critical stakeholders must resume action in this regard not just for the sake of justice, fair play and stability within the PDP, but for the survival of democracy in Nigeria.”