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Tag: PDP crisis

  • PDP governors split over unity convention

    PDP governors split over unity convention

    •Jonathan meets Wike in Port Harcourt

    The Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be winning more governors elected on the party’s platform to its side on the planned national convention.
    Apart from Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson who chaired the reconciliation committee that recommended the convention as a way out of the crisis now tearing the party into pieces, three other governors are said to be favourably disposed to the idea.
    They are one each from the South South and the South East and Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo of Gombe State, according to multiple party sources.
    However, the majority of the PDP governors still line up behind Senator Ahmed Makarfi and are resolutely opposed to the convention.
    Federal legislators, PDP Board of Trustees members and other party leaders are also sharply divided on the matter.
    Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State at Government House, Port Harcourt.
    It was not immediately clear what they discussed.
    Wike is a Makarfi backer.
    Jonathan recently launched a peace initiative to resolve the crisis, prompting him to meet separately with Sheriff, Makarfi, PDP governors and other stakeholders.
    Jonathan has already endorsed the Dickson-led panel which proposed that the PDP national unity convention that will bring the two factions under the same umbrella and elect a new leadership be held on June 30, 2017.
    Dickson submitted the panel’s recommendation to Sherrif and Makarfi weeks back.
    Sheriff’s faction lauded the recommendations and promised to use it as a working document on the proposed unity convention, while Makarfi’s camp picked holes in the proposal and vowed not to abide with it.
    Fresh threats to peace
    An aide to one of the party’s Governors who spoke on condition of anonymity with our correspondent on Friday, said that the party will have to source for another solution to the crisis other than the proposed unity convention.
    He contended that while it is true that the Dickson committee had the blessing of most stakeholders when it started out, it appears to have been compromised along the line.
    “We need another solution aside this controversial and suspicious unity convention that some people are desperately trying to force down our throats,” the governor’s aide said.
    “Though I agree that the Dickson committee had the blessing of most stakeholders when it started out, it appears to have been compromised along the line.
    “And if I know my principal very well, he will never be a party to such Kangaroo arrangement. We are all politicians and when we see an agenda that will bring nothing but confusion in the end, we always know. This arrangement, as proposed by the Dickson committee, is not in the interest of the PDP.
    “It will only serve the purpose of ensuring that some desperate people remain in control of the machinery of our dear party. This is why you see them rushing to endorse the recommendations. What was agreed to is that the stakeholders will meet and ratify the proposal. But they rushed out to announce it as an agreement. Who agreed with them? Definitely not my own Governor,” our source said.
    However, it was gathered that some other governors elected on the platform of the party are rooting for proposed unity convention as a way of halting the unending leadership tussle.
    Governor Dickson, speaking on the proposed convention, said that instead of embarking on name-calling, propaganda and outright lies, it was high time the party came together in support of the proposed unity convention as a way of restoring it to the path of peace.
    He lamented that despite the sacrifices made by him and members of the committee, it was unfortunate that some people within the party were making “uncharitable comments” on the report meant to salvage the party.
    Dickson said he had never supported the court-declared chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, but since the Appeal Court recognised him as leader of the party, the rule of law has to be obeyed and dialogue employed to resolve issues.
    The Bayelsa governor, it was learnt, has vowed to work with Sheriff to ensure the success of the unity convention.
    An aide to Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo said:”For us in Gombe State, we are open to any effort that can help the party overcome its current challenges.
    “Here in Gombe, the PDP is one. We don’t have factions and that is because under the leadership of Governor Dankwambo, every PDP member is a very important stakeholder.
    “As far as I am aware, our governor is not opposed to the unity convention. In fact, he is opened to it. He is happy that former President Jonathan has decided to wade into the matter and ensure a political solution. So, if the unity convention is the solution, we are willing and ready to be part of it.”
    But a member of the Makarfi-led caretaker committee said it is not true that PDP governors have agreed to be part of the controversial unity convention as being speculated in some quarters. According to the Niger Delta-born former federal legislator, majority of the party’s governors are opposed to the recommendations of the committee.
    “PDP is not a party that some people can hoodwink into toeing a path of destruction. I can confidently tell you that our governors, majority of them, because I must admit that one or two of them have been coerced, are opposed to the whole procedure as outlines by Governor Dickson and his committee.
    “The chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has never hidden his objection to the proposed convention as proposed by the said committee. While he is not opposed to a political solution, he, like many of his colleagues, are opposed to the modalities that appear to give recognition to one of the factions ahead of the convention.
    “Also, Governor Nyesom Wike has faulted the way and manner the committee made the recommendations public before it was discussed by stakeholders as planned. He also faulted the publicity given to the submission of the report to Sheriff by Dickson. These and many more are the reasons why our governors won’t back the unity convention yet.”
    As it stands, four PDP governors are willing to give the Dickson committee-proposed unity convention, tentatively slated for June 30, 2017, a chance, while five of the ten governors elected on the platform of the troubled party, are unwavering in their resolve not to be part of the convention.
    The tenth, a governor from the South South zone, according to sources, is yet to decide on his move.
    The reconciliatory effort notwithstanding, another group in the PDP, led by former Minister Jerry Gana, has revived the quest for a mega party ahead of the 2019 general elections in the country.
    At a conference held in Abuja during the week, the group sought the co-operation of other opposition political parties towards the formation of a mega party that will rival the ruling APC.
    Gana, Chairman of the PDP Strategy Review and Interparty Affairs Committee, according to party sources, has the support of many prominent chieftains of the troubled party in his quest to take PDP into alliance with other parties and form a bigger opposition platform that will confront the APC in 2019.
    “We are discussing with friendly political parties on the ways we can work together or possibly fuse in 2019 general elections.
    “The purpose of our gathering is very profound. We met before we set up a panel. The purpose of our meeting today is to consider the report of the panel.
    “This meeting is a follow -up to an earlier meeting between us leaders of the PDP and leaders of a number of other concerned political parties. We are to decide whether to cooperate or merge. The number of the PDP leaders present is an indication of how serious we take this issue,” Gana said at the meeting.
    Speaking at the same meeting, former Governor of Kaduna State and other leaders of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa said “We are here because we are convinced that the situation of the nation is worse in every indication. We have to do something. We can’t just sit there and do nothing. We are here in spite of our belonging to different political parties to see what we can do to salvage our country.”
    Aside the PRP, it was gathered that leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party (LP), Accord Party (ACCORD) Democratic Peoples Party (DPA), amongst other opposition parties, are part of the plan to form a new mega party.
    The Nation however gathered that Gana, speaking in his capacity as the Chairman of the PDP Strategy Review and Interparty Affairs Committee, has severally presented the mega party idea as that of the entire PDP, a good number of the party’s chieftains are opposed to the idea of a mega party.
    A member of the PDP Board of Trustees, speaking to our correspondents at the weekend described the mega party move as diversionary and uncalled for.
    According to the Osun State-born politician, Gana and his co-travellers are only trying to create more problems for the PDP with their mega party ambition.
    “While we are working round the clock to end the fictionalisation of the party through a proposed unity convention, some funny people are discussing alliance with other parties for a mega party. On whose behalf are they negotiating? In what capacity are they negotiating? Will the outcome of their negotiations be binding on all factions in the party?
    “These and many more are the questions I have been asking Gana. He is an elder of the party and he should know that what he and his people are currently doing cannot be achieved with a divided house. I am afraid to say that Gana and his people are just trying to position themselves as a third force in the crisis within the party,” he said.

  • Dickson rallies 22 ‘state chairmen’ for Sheriff

    Dickson rallies 22 ‘state chairmen’ for Sheriff

    •They are dissidents, says Makarfi

    The leadership crisis plaguing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new twist, with the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson mobilising support for the party’s court-backed National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff.
    Apparently backed by Dickson, a designated group of 22 chairmen of state chapters of the PDP, met in Abuja Friday night to declare support for Sheriff.
    The group also endorsed the planned national convention to be superintended by Sheriff, as outlined in a report authored by a reconciliation committee chaired by the Bayelsa State governor.
    But in a swift reaction, the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee dismissed the purported endorsement as a ruse, describing participants at the meeting as “dissidents within the party.”
    Makarfi, in a statement on yesterday by the spokesman of the Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the meeting, held by the group was illegal.
    At the meeting, which was convened by the Bayelsa State chairman of the PDP, Mr. Moses Cleopas, the chairmen expressed concerns over prospects of the crisis jeopardising the future and stability of the party.
    In a communiqué read on behalf of the group by the chapter chairman of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Yunusa Suleiman, the party chiefs said their decision to back Sheriff was borne out of respect for the rule of law.
    According to them, the February 17 Court of Appeal judgment that affirmed Sheriff as the national chairman of the party remained sacrosanct and must be respected.
    They, however, added that their support for Sheriff was without prejudice to the appeal, filed by the Makarfi group and which is still pending before the Supreme Court.
    Describing political solution as the best way to resolve the crisis, the chairmen expressed fears that the PDP would continue to lose some of its key chieftains to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) if the crisis persists.
    The communiqué said, “The PDP chapter chairmen are very concerned about the crisis engulfing the party as it is degenerating into several defections from the party across the nation.
    “Bearing in mind the upcoming presidential election timeline recently announced by the INEC as well as other elections fast approaching, and as key political actors of the polity, we cannot sit back and allow our party degenerate to this level and have thus decided to come forward and proffer solutions to this crisis.
    “In line with the only template presented by the Peace and Reconciliation Committee of our party, headed by Henry Seriake Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State, we wish to state that we support the recommendation that a political solution is the best and only solution to our crisis without prejudice to the ongoing judicial processes.
    “We are also in support of the committee’s recommendation for an all inclusive unity convention to be held as soon as possible.
    “We therefore suggest that every organ of the party, group or individuals that have anything to add to the aforementioned recommendations should present same for consideration and deliberations as we believe this will deepen our internal democracy and support an all inclusive regeneration of the party.”
    The statement added, “We call upon all party leaders and members to make the necessary sacrifices to ensure the survival of the party at this critical period of our history
    “We also call upon the National Chairman Senator Ali Modu Sherriff and the National Working Committee (NWC) to abide by the recommendations of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee for the sake of our great party.”
    The 22 states chairmen that signed the communique were those of Jigawa, Adamawa, Niger, Gombe, Taraba, Zamfara, Yobe and Kebbi.
    Others are Kwara, Bayelsa, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Imo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Kogi, Benue, Cross River and the FCT.
    But the Makarfi camp insisted that many of the participants at the meeting were not elected state chairmen of the PDP, saying a good number of them were “double dealers”.
    Makarfi continued, “We wish to state without ambiguity that the action of these elements is a ruse, lies from the pit of hell and a mere continuation of the impunity of Senator Sheriff and his dissident backers foisted on the party.
    “For the records, we wish to make it abundantly clear that many of those men are not elected state chairmen of our party, not at any time, even when Senator Sheriff was the recognised chairman of the party.
    “Many of those who attended the meeting and their sponsors are double dealers and in politics such as we play in Nigeria, it is not uncommon to find those who will run with the hare and at the same time hunt with the fox.
    “Nigerians should also be aware that since the Appeal Court judgment of Port Harcourt Division pronounced the May 21, 2016 convention held in the same city illegal, Senator Sherrif and his men have been making frantic efforts at causing more problems for the party by going round the states, disorganising the party at state levels by giving recognition to illegal persons as chairmen.

    “The continued parade of Dr Cairo Ojougboh as Deputy National Chairman and Bernard Mikko as Acting National Publicity Secretary of the PDP are acts of impunity and will be challenged in court.
    “We make bold to say that the National Caretaker Committee did not suggest the resignation of Senator Sheriff as panacea for peace but former President Goodluck Jonathan did.
    “The former President suggested the resignation of all NWC members returned by the Court of Appeal. By the same token, it was also suggested that the National Caretaker Committee members should also resign.
    “We wish to restate our commitment to the peace deal and suggestions by the former president at achieving it.”

    END

    PHOTO:
    Use Jonathan and Wike picture in PHOTO NEWS

  • PDP crisis: Jonathan, Wike in secret meeting

    PDP crisis: Jonathan, Wike in secret meeting

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday held a secret meeting with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike on the deepening crisis in the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
    Wike belongs to the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the PDP. It was believed Jonathan discussed the raging crisis with Wike, who is one of the main arrowheads.
    Political strategists said the former president hid under project inspection to hold the strategic meeting.
    The governor’s Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, in a statement said Wike received Jonathan in the company of Chief of Staff Emeka Woke, Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) Chief Kenneth Kobani and Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih.
    Nwakaudu said: “Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Wike had a closed-door meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, before the Dr. Jonathan left for another engagement  at Okrika.”
    While inspecting Wike’s administration’s projects, the former president maintained the governor had performed well since assuming office 22 months ago.
    Jonathan inspected the new amphitheatre, the Government House Chapel, Restored Brick House (former seat of power in Rivers State), New Corridor of Power and extended landscape.
    Addressing newsmen after inspecting projects being executed by the Rivers governor, he insisted Wike was a worthy representative of the PDP.
    He praised the Rivers governor for keeping the torch shinning by his exemplary  performance, which he said had justified his election by the people of Rivers state.
    According to him: “I am part of Rivers State. I grew up in Rivers State and Bayelsa State was carved out of Rivers State. Also, my wife is from Rivers State.
    “Today (yesterday) is my first day of visiting Rivers State, since Wike assumed office as governor. Twenty two months down the line, I am quite impressed with what I have seen.
    “First, I heard so much. People have told me of the changes in Port Harcourt. I was told that I cannot even recognise the roads to where I used to live.
    “As we drove into the city, I noticed that he has done very well in various areas.
    “One thing I must commend Wike is that he has positive traits. I always believe that wherever you find yourself, add value.
    Governor Wike has added value in Rivers State. He has done weål to show his signature.”
    The ex-president also lauded Nigerians for appreciating his contributions to the nation’s development.
    Wike noted the Old Brick House was restored with certain additions because of the need to preserve history of governance in the state.
    The governor noted the new amphitheatre being constructed at the Government House, Port Harcourt would host high profile guests to visit Rivers state.
    He pointed out that the new Government House, Port Harcourt chapel, which would host about 300 persons, would provide a venue for interdenominational Christian worship.
    Wike thanked the former  president for visiting Rivers, while assuring him that he would continue to live up to expectations.

  • ‘APC causing PDP crisis’

    ‘APC causing PDP crisis’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has decried the continuous support given to the Ali Modu-Sheriff faction by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    It accused the APC of causing the crisis in the party.

    In a communique issued at the end of its stakeholders meeting in Akure, the state capital and attended by the former Deputy National Chairman (South), Bode George, the party said the APC has continued to fester on the crisis in the PDP.

    The National Vice Chairman (South West), Eddy Olafeso, who read the communique said: “We condemn emphatically the desperate politics that the APC has continued to prosecute in the nation.

    “It’s penchant for undermining institutions, compromising elections and also the sponsorship of crisis in our party by clandestinely providing logistic support to the Sheriff group.”

    The meeting, which was attended by the governorship candidate in the last election, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) and Southwest zonal secretary, Bunmi Jenyo, concluded that the party’s failure in the state was as a result of the roles played by  Jimoh Ibrahim.

    The party also restated its belief in the leadership of Ahmed Markafi as the national chairman of the party’s caretaker committee.

    The PDP urged members to stand firm and remain committed to actions that will reposition the party and return it to its glory.

     

  • Only political solution can resolve PDP crisis, says Dickson

    Only political solution can resolve PDP crisis, says Dickson

    The Bayelsa State Governor and Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Reconciliation Committee, Mr. Seriake Dickson Thursday, insisted that only political solution would take PDP out of its present crisis.

    The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, commended party leaders and elders in the north for opting to support  a political solution.

    Dickson further thanked the northern leaders for identifying with the recommendations and efforts of his committee to unite the party.

    He noted that taking the path of finding a political solution to the current crisis remained a win-win option for everyone in the PDP.

    He advised against taking hard positions adding that the northern PDP leaders’ position underscored their commitment to finding peace in the shortest possible time.

    Dickson noted that at a time the party needed to put its house in order, personal interests must give way to the overall survival of the PDP.

    The statement said: “The Governor commends the PDP northern leaders for opting for a political solution in the resolution of the party’s leadership crisis. He thanks them for accepting this option and their unalloyed commitment to the PDP as a party.

    “This alternative remains a win-win option for our dear party. We must put aside our egos and sink our differences, so that collectively, we can face the challenges ahead”.

    The governor pledged that his committee would continue to undertake the right path to ensure peace returned to the party.

    The statement added: “The governor thanks them (PDP leaders) for their suggestions and recommendations. He appreciates their suggestions on the need for a political solution.

    “He also welcomes more suggestions, since the committee’s recommendations are not cast in stone”.

  • PDP won’t hold any convention under Sheriff – Adeyeye

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee has said the party would not hold any national convention under the leadership of Ali Modu Sheriff

    The Publicity Secretary of the Committee, Dayo Adeyeye, told journalists on Thursday in Abuja that the party could not trust Sheriff with its leadership.

    He added that given the “lawless and untoward behaviour of Sheriff so far,” it appeared that there would be no meeting point in resolving the party crisis.

    Adeyeye, who described Sheriff –led National Working Committee (NWC) as illegal, urged him to immediately stop operating on behalf of the party.

    He also urged Sheriff to stop parading himself as Acting National Chairman of PDP following the judgment of an Abuja High Court delivered by Justice Valentine Ashi on June 29, 2016.

    The court judgement, according to Adeyeye nullified the 2014 Amendment to the PDP Constitution that produced Sheriff as Acting National Chairman of the PDP and that the judgement was never appealed.

    Adeyeye added that there was another valid judgment delivered on Augut 17, 2016 by Justice Nwamaka Ogbonnaya of the FCT High Court in Abuja which reaffirmed Sheriff’s sack as PDP Chairman.

    NAN

     

  • PDP crisis tears Fayose, Dickson apart

    PDP crisis tears Fayose, Dickson apart

    Until recently, they were best of friends but the raging factional crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has torn Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson apart.

    Fayose is angry with Dickson for his role as the chairman of the party’s Reconciliation Committee which has submitted a report to National Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff.

    The PDP Governors’ Forum chairman, who is a supporter of National Caretaker Committee Chair Ahmed Makarfi, maintained that there cannot be any meaningful reconciliation with Sheriff as the party boss.

    Fayose alleged that “well over $1 million had been provided by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to fund the convention being planned by the Sheriff-led National Working Committee (NWC).

    In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose who said he was reacting in his capacity as Ekiti State governor, faulted the submission of the report without recourse to appropriate organs of the party.

    Fayose said: “All constitutionally-recognised organs of the party, including staff of the national secretariat,  are with the Markafi-led Caretaker Committee and since political party is about membership, Sheriff will continue to carry with himself the burden of lack of legitimacy.”

    “I respect Governor Dickson, he is my brother and he is entitled to his own personal opinion just as I am entitled to mine.”

  • Makarfi vows to ‘flush out’ Sheriff from PDP

    Makarfi vows to ‘flush out’ Sheriff from PDP

    The protracted leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) boiled over on Thursday as the Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, vowed to “flush out” the court-backed party chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, from the party.

    But Sheriff has insisted that he meant well for the PDP and had agreed in totality with all the recommendations contained in Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson-led reconciliation committee for a national convention tentatively fixed for June 30.

    The two factions made their positions known at separate media briefings in Abuja on Thursday.

    The Spokesman of the Makarfi camp, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, who spoke on behalf of the group, said it would be a disaster for the party to allow Sheriff preside over the planned convention.

    Describing Sheriff as “a snake under the party’s roof,” Adeyeye said the caretaker committee, in agreement with all organs and stakeholders in PDP, would deploy every available legal means to ensure that Sheriff is chased out of the party.

    Asking Sheriff to stop parading himself as the chairman of the party, the Makarfi camp pointed out that the spirit and letter of the February 17 judgment of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal did not confer the chairman on the ex- Borno Governor.

    He said, “To buttress this, the general public will also recall that the judgment of the Appeal Court, Port Harcourt Division of Friday, February 17, 2017 that nullified the national convention of May 21, 2016 limited itself solely to the legality or otherwise of the National Convention of May 21, 2016 and not on the legality or otherwise of the appointment of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the Acting National Chairman of the PDP.

    “Firstly, let us remind the public of our earlier calls on Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to stop parading himself as Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the judgement of an Abuja High Court delivered by Justice Valentine Ashi on June 29, 2016 in which the court nullified the 2014 Amendment to the PDP Constitution that produced Senator Sheriff as Acting National Chairman of the PDP.

    “This Judgment was never appealed by Senator Sheriff and the time frame stipulated by law for the appeal has elapsed; and as such, the judgment subsists.

    “Another judgment delivered on August 17, 2016 by Justice Nwamaka Ogbonnaya of the FCT High Court in Abuja re-affirmed the ‘sack’ of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the Chairman of the PDP on the ground that the judgment of Justice Valentine Ashi which nullified his appointment has not been set aside or vacated and therefore it’s subsisting.

    “Justice Ogbonnaya further held that all actions taken by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff are null, void and of no effect; and the order further restrained him from parading himself as the Acting National Chairman of the Party.”

     

     

     

  • PDP panel gives Sheriff conditions for convention

    PDP panel gives Sheriff conditions for convention

    A reconciliation committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set conditions for a national convention to be presided over by the National Chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff.

    The convention is tentatively fixed for June 30.

    According to the panel, the National Convention Planning Committee (NCPC), to be set up by Sheriff must draw its membership from all the existing organs of the party and other key stakeholders.

    The Chairman of the panel, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, submitted the panel’s report to Sheriff at the party’s secretariat on Tuesday.

    Speaking with journalists shortly after submitting the report, Dickson said an acceptable convention remained the ultimate resolution to the party’s leadership crisis.

    Among those listed as members of the NCPC include seven serving governors, seven serving senators, 12 members of the House of Representatives, six members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and six national vice chairmen.

    Others are 18 zonal chairmen, six speakers of state assemblies, six former governors, former presiding officers of the National Assembly, six prominent women leaders, six youth leaders, six former ministers and 12 others to be nominated by Sheriff in consultation with key stakeholders.

    The governor added that even after the Supreme Court must have ruled on the appeal filed against Sheriff by the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee, the party must still go for the convention.

    He said Sheriff too was in support of the proposed convention, just like other stakeholders, adding however that mutual mistrust and lack of faith in the present leadership of the party remained an issue.

    The governor appealed to other elective party office holders who are still holding on to their positions to let go and seek fresh mandate in the planned convention.

    The Dickson report was however silent on whether Sheriff would be eligible to renew his mandate through the convention, where new set of party leaders are expected to emerge.

     

  • PDP crisis: Secretariat workers shun call to resume duties

    Workers at the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have shunned calls by the party National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, for them to resume duties.

    A week after Sheriff resumed duties at the secretariat, the workers, who have been shut out since June 2016, have raised concerns about their safety at the party secretariat.

    At a meeting held at a private location in Abuja on Monday, the workers, numbering 127, said the choice of Sheriff as chairman has continued to polarise the party, thereby making it difficult for them to go along with him.

    The workers, whose loyalty is with the Ahmed Makarfi- led Caretaker Committee, rued the leadership crisis in the party.

    At the meeting chaired by the Director of Administration, Alhaji Gurama Bawa, the workers lamented the atmosphere of insecurity and instability at the secretariat.

    “To put it mildly, one of the major casualties of this power struggle had been the staff of the PDP national secretariat, many of whom have spent 17 years of their working life striving to establish and grow the bureaucracy of the party.

    “They have witnessed their salaries wither away, receiving just about 32.5 percent of their 2015 salaries. Their housing, transport, and other allowances have all fallen into arrears with many members of staff thrown out of their homes by landlords.

    “Members of staff are desirous of resuming work after they were made victim of problems they never caused but are concerned about their safety,” the workers said in a statement.