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Tag: PDP crisis

  • I’ll quit as PDP chief after convention – Sheriff

    I’ll quit as PDP chief after convention – Sheriff

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, has signified his willingness to quit his position after convening the party’s national convention where a new set of leaders would emerge.

    Sheriff made the declaration in Abuja on Wednesday while receiving the South West zonal leaders of the party who paid him a solidarity visit.

    He, however, did not state a possible date for the convention.

    This came just as one of the prominent backers of the Ahmed Makarfi -led Caretaker Committee, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, canvased a political solution to the party’s leadership crisis.

    Addressing the South West 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.”

    He pleaded with the Makarfi led caretaker committee, the party’s governors and other stakeholders to allow peace to reign in the PDP, asking them to wait for the convention to enable them change the present leadership.

    “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 PDP chairman urged the party’s governors not to divide the party with their actions and utterances, saying they are very important stakeholders in the party.

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

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

  • I did not endorse Sheriff as PDP chairman – Jonathan

    I did not endorse Sheriff as PDP chairman – Jonathan

    Former President President Goodluck Jonathan has denied reports that he endorsed Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Describing the report as false, the media aide to the former President, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, in a statement on Tuesday, clarified that Jonathan did not endorse Sheriff during the latter’s visit to the ex- President on Monday.

    “The issue of endorsement never came up in the course of the visit, not at the closed door meeting with Sheriff nor during the former President’s interview with newsmen,” the statement said.

    Jonathan, who repeatedly addressed Sheriff as “my chairman” during the visit, accused the media of infusing mischief in their report, stressing that he welcomed Sheriff to his house in line with a mediation role he was playing towards undying and strengthening the PDP.

    According to the statement, the ex -President opened his doors to Sheriff upon the latter’s request, just as he had earlier done to the Makarfi-led caretaker committee members.

    It added that the former President was prepared to broker more talks until the leadership crisis in the PDP is finally resolved.

    The statement added, “Indeed, it may interest you to know that after meeting with Sheriff, the former President also met with Senator Ahmed Makarfi, leader of the PDP Caretaker Committee, and the party’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Walid Jubril, later in the evening.”

    It emphasised that as a peace-loving leader of the party, the former President’s interest was to help reposition the PDP to enable it play a constructive role in the affairs of the nation and help deepen the nation’s democracy.

     

     

     

     

  • PDP crisis: Wike’s boast about Supreme Court vindicates us, says Rivers APC

    PDP crisis: Wike’s boast about Supreme Court vindicates us, says Rivers APC

    The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Governor Nyesom Wike’s boast of getting justice at the Supreme Court in the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) leadership tussle has vindicated its position on how he was declared governor last year.
    Rivers APC, through its Chairman, Chief Davies Ikanya, yesterday in Port Harcourt, said: “The certainty and finality in his (Wike’s) tone and language confirm our position that he bought the governorship judgment and this time round he is ready to buy a favourable judgement for his faction of the PDP at the Supreme Court.
    “Indeed, what has become clear is that our consistent position that he (Wike) paid for the Supreme Court judgment that declared him governor of Rivers State is an incontrovertible truth, given facts that emerged after the Rivers governorship judgment, his utterances during his victory church service and his Sunday’s boasts on national television.
    “The APC is pleased that the Federal Government is doing the needful by cleansing the judiciary of the rot that allowed the likes of Wike to bribe judges and weaken an all-important state institution such as the judiciary. We believe that Wike targets three major institutions of state which he weakens with bribe money, in order to obtain and retain political power. Those institutions are the judiciary, electoral umpire (INEC) and security agencies.
    “For now, whereas he (Wike) is unable to effectively pocket security agencies as in the past, his hold on the electoral umpire and judiciary is still conspicuous, as can be gleaned from the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris’ Panel Report and the widely-circulated audio clip, in addition to his verbal incontinence about the Supreme Court.”

  • Sheriff meets Jonathan as security bars PDP meeting

    Sheriff meets Jonathan as security bars PDP meeting

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, on Monday met with former President Goodluck Jonathan at the ex-President’s Abuja home.

    The meeting took place hours after security agencies cordoned off the International Conference Centre, where the party Caretaker Committee, led by Ahmed Makarfi was to hold an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting.

    Sheriff arrived at Jonathan’s Maitama home at 4.25 p.m., accompanied by some members of his National Working Committee (NWC).

    Those that accompanied Sheriff included the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo and the National Financial Secretary, Adewole Adeyanju.

    Others are former Political Adviser, Ahmed Gulak; a former Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama and Senator Umar Gada, among others.

    Details of the meeting are known at the time of filing this report.

     

     

     

  • PDP crisis: Makarfi, govs weigh five options

    PDP crisis: Makarfi, govs weigh five options

    •Sheriff waves olive branch, says no winner, no loser
    •Ben Bruce queues behind ex-Borno Gov
    •APC to PDP: Count us out of your trouble

    The fate of the beleaguered Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be sorted out tomorrow at an emergency meeting of the expanded National Caucus of the party in Abuja.
    The meeting summoned by the Ahmed Makarfi faction is in response to weekend’s ruling of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt which sacked the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee and reinstated Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the rightful national chairman.
    Five options have been listed for consideration at the meeting, The Nation gathered authoritatively, yesterday.
    Sheriff offered yesterday to make sacrifices to ensure the unity of the party and branded the court’s ruling as victory for all.
    “Sheriff is no winner and Makarfi is no loser, because there is no winner and there is no vanquished. It’s a misunderstanding within our fold,” he told reporters in Abuja.
    Sheriff got the backing of Senator Ben Bruce (Bayelsa East) who called the bickering in the party as childish and irrelevant.
    He said no to further litigation to resolve the crisis.
    The All Progressives Congress (APC) reacting to allegation by prominent members of the Makafi faction of the PDP that it engineered the court ruling dismissed such views as laughable.
    The APC said it is none of its business who heads PDP.
    At tomorrow’s meeting of the expanded caucus of the PDP, members are scheduled to consider the following options and build consensus on the most practicable to save the party.
    They are:
    *File an appeal against the Court of Appeal’s ruling which declared Sheriff as the valid National Chairman of PDP
    * Allow the status quo to remain with Sheriff in charge of the party till August
    * Negotiate with Sheriff’s faction to find amicable political solutions to the crisis
    * Leave PDP en masse for Sheriff.
    * Leave Sheriff to tow the path of honour and bow out as he promised in the past.
    Expected at the forum are PDP governors, members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), BOT members, ex-Ministers, party members in the National Assembly especially principal officers, and chairmen of the state chapters of PDP.
    The Board of Trustees of PDP is also likely to follow suit on Tuesday and the Forum of ex-Ministers on Thursday.
    The BoT, the PDP Governors Forum and the Forum of ex-Ministers are all on Makarfi’s side.
    They said in separate statements at the weekend that on no account can they work with Sheriff.
    The spokesman of the Forum of ex-Ministers, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, said: “We are holding an Expanded Caucus meeting on Monday to review the ruling and chart a way forward whether to file an appeal at the Supreme Court against the decision of the Court of Appeal on Friday or allow the status quo to remain.
    “We have many options on the table but those in favour of taking the battle to the Supreme Court are in the majority.
    “But some have asked for political solutions because they are tired of litigations. They think that the prolonged court case is affecting the fortunes of the party.
    “It is when we meet that we will try to build consensus on any of the alternatives which we may consider viable and realistic.
    “No one knows how long the case will take at the Supreme Court and Anambra State Governorship poll is around the corner. We need to do a lot of work to reshape the party.
    “Some of our leaders are saying if Sheriff means well, if he is working in the interest of the party, why can’t he take a bow?”
    Asked if PDP leaders might leave the party for Sheriff, the ex- National Planning Minister said: “The possibility is remote. I don’t see the possibility for now.”
    However, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff yesterday asked Senator Ahmed Makarfi to join him in fixing the party.
    Sheriff, at a press conference in Abuja declared the judgment a no-winner-no-vanquished situation, adding that he was ready to make sacrifices to ensure the unity of the party.
    His words:”It’s victory for all. Sheriff is no winner and Makarfi is no loser because there is no winner and there is no vanquished. It’s a misunderstanding within our fold.
    “This is the beginning of good things to come. I am not interested in sitting tight in office as national chairman but to ensure the conduct of credible convention to elect leaders for the PDP.”
    The former Borno State Governor however parried questions regarding the expiration of his tenure as chairman, saying: “my tenure as chairman is immaterial. I am not talking about my tenure.”
    He hinted that he would open consultations with the governors, the BoT, the National Assembly caucus and the various reconciliation committees set up by the party.
    According to him, the consultations will start immediately, adding that his team would ensure the re-opening of the party’s secretariat which was sealed off by the police last June.
    Sheriff maintained that the consultations would lead to the process of drawing up a programme for conducting national convention and congresses in states where the last exercise was inconclusive.
    The party chairman cautioned the various stakeholders against making inflammatory statements that could further compound the party’s problems.
    “Well meaning Nigerians want the PDP to be united. My hands are clean and I have nothing to hide. I am ready to make sacrifices to ensure the unity of the party.
    “We want the culture of impunity to stop, we should learn to do things the right way by giving the party back to the people”, Sheriff added.
    With Sheriff at the briefing were Senator Hope Uzodinma, Chief Chris Uba, and Senator Seidu Kumo, among others.
    Senator Ben Murray Bruce threw his weight behind Sheriff yesterday.
    He offered, via his Twitter handle, to work with the former Borno State governor.
    In a tweet which he entitled ‘My Position on the Appeal Court’s judgement concerning the Leadership of the PDP,’ he said the PDP has embarked on the path of destruction.
    “Concerning the PDP, the current bickering is childish and irrelevant,” he said.
    “I am not in support of anymore litigation. 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.
    “In the first place, it is never the job of the judiciary to choose the leader of a party. I therefore call 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.”
    But the Makarfi camp insisted on having nothing to do with Sheriff.
    Spokesman for the group, Prince Dayo Adeyeye said in a statement that the Appeal Court judgment cannot stand as it is nothing short of a “travesty of justice, a mockery of valid facts, miscarriage of justice and an invidious attempt to destroy the PDP.”
    “We will certainly appeal to the Supreme Court. No reconciliatory effort will stop it. We need the Supreme Court to make a pronouncement on the issue once and for all,” he said.
    “We maintain that this is a continuation of the attempt to kill the PDP and thereby destroy all opposition in Nigeria. The rebels in the party who were favoured by the two justices of the Appeal Court are snakes within the house working for the ruling party, the APC.
    “The great conspiracy to silence the PDP is an assault on the Nigerian democracy. We are however determined to resist this onslaught to the very last. The struggle continues.”
    The APC through its National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi denied having a hand in the crisis rocking the PDP.
    The party said it has no interest in who emerges as the national chairman of the opposition party or how the PDP handles its internal affairs.
    Abdullahi insisted, in an interview, that the crisis within the PDP is of no interest whatsoever to the APC or the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and urged the opposition party to stop looking for who to blame for the glaring division in its ranks.
    He said:”What is happening in the PDP is their internal problem. I am not a member of their party and I can tell you that APC is not interested in the cries. We have no interest whatsoever in who emerges as the national chairman of the opposition party or in how the PDP handles its internal affairs.
    “Whoever is alleging that APC has a hand in the crisis or the judgements does not know what he or she is talking about. I will just want the world to know that APC as the ruling party is not interested in what goes on in the PDP, especially their internal scheming. We also do not care how they get to settle their problems.
    “I will also challenge those making the allegations to be specific by mentioning names of person who intervened in the said judgement as alleged. It is when we all get to hear such names if any exists, that we can all look at how APC is involved. Until then, I want to advise PDP to find solutions to their problems without mentioning APC. Above all, I want to say the allegation is laughable,” Abdulahi said.
    The Appeal Court, in declaring Sheriff the rightful national chairman of the PDP, also nullified the National Caretaker Committee of the party led by Senators Ahmed Makarfi.
    Two t of the three-member Appeal Court, Justice B.G. Sanga and Justice A. Gumel, in their judgment said the Port Harcourt convention on May 21, 2016, was an abuse of court process.
    Delivering the lead judgment, Sanga said that PDP did not follow the provisions of Article 47(3) of its Constitution in the removal of the Sherrif-led National Working Committee.
    Justice Theresa Agbadua Orji, in her own judgment, said she found it difficult to agree with the positions of the two judges on the matter.
    She argued that the contentious issue in the matter which was the judgment of July 4, 2016 by the lower court did not constitute any abuse of court process by the respondent as alleged.
    She maintained that Sheriff actively participated in the screening exercise of the party before he backed out, emphasizing that he had no power as an individual to cancel or postpone the national convention because he was not the party.

  • PDP crisis: Makarfi hopeful of victory at Appeal Court

    PDP crisis: Makarfi hopeful of victory at Appeal Court

    The Ahmed Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it is hopeful of receiving favourable judgment at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.
    The court slated judgment on the crisis rocking the party for February 17.
    According to the party, the outcome of the judgment would afford the PDP the much needed tonic to reposition the party for the 2019 general elections.
    Addressing chairmen of state chapters in Abuja yesterday, Makarfi, who is the the chairman of the Caretaker Committee, condemned what he described as attempts by the government to disrupt anti-government protests across the country.
    Makarfi said the caretaker committee remained committed to ensuring peace and reconciliation in the party, adding that the party would not be distracted by the antics of the ruling party.
    “No matter the distraction, we will not look in a different direction. When you are running and somebody is holding your cloth, if you have scissors, cut it off because if you look behind, somebody behind you will overtake you.
    “We have confidence in the judiciary that sooner or later the crisis will be over and PDP will bounce back.”
    Makarfi said the party was looking forward to receiving the report of the Strategy Review and Inter-party Affairs Committee, headed by Prof. Jerry Gana. The report is billed for submission next Tuesday.
    The chairman of the Forum of PDP State Chairman, Mr. Paul Ekpo, commended the caretaker committee members for their maturity in the handling of the affairs of the party.
    Ekpo, on behalf of others, declared support for the caretaker committee, saying the caretaker remained a legal instrument put in place by the party’s convention.
    A statement by its spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said: “For emphasis, freedom of speech, association and assembly are fundamental and constitutional rights of citizens of this country and the police or any other security agency have no right or power to stop or interfere with lawful and peaceful gathering under any pretext.”

  • ‘PDP crisis ‘ll soon be over’

    ‘PDP crisis ‘ll soon be over’

    Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, a former Minister of State for Works, is the National Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee, led by Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi. He spoke with reporters in Ise-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on efforts to reposition the party and other issues. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA was there.

    The race for 2019 has already begun. How prepared is the party, PDP?
    The crisis in PDP would soon end, I can assure you of that. The crisis will linger till next year by the grace of God. We would start the new year a stronger and united party because very soon the Court of Appeal would finalise on the legal issues and resolve the crisis.
    But, I want to tell you that PDP had performed better than this present government. Examine your life, are you better than you were two years ago?
    PDP is an household name. I’m not ruling out the possibility of a mega party, but now, as of today, PDP remains the largest party in the whole of Africa. Whether we are ruling or not, we remain the largest party. We are in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. We are the only party you would find in every ward across the country. We are a very huge party and people are very enthusiastic about the party. Let me tell you, I’m the national spokesman of the party, many of the people in APC are frustrated and have been making overtures to us.
    As for many who were aggrieved, we are putting our house together and resolving all issues soon.
    What are the pointers to this soon-to-be-achieved peace in your party that you speak of?
    Contrary to the impression you have in the media, the PDP is even more united now. I say that because all our governors are united, our state house of assemblies and federal lawmakers are united and so do all our state leaders and others united, the Board of Trustees are also united and all are together supporting the national caretaker committee of the party and we have set up committees, all the former governors are with us, so to a large extent the party is united, only a few are rebellious and are making a lot of noise and allowing themselves to be used by the APC. Now, by the grace of God, by the time all the legal issues are resolved by the Court of Appeal, we would be in a position to bring everybody together and have what I will call genuine PDP.
    A Federal High Court recently ordered that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should unfreeze Governor Fayose ‘s accounts. What does this development mean to your party?
    It means that the court have risen up to the challenge to curb impunity on the part of the EFCC. The EFCC and the security organizations have been acting as if they have no rule. They do whatever they like as if there are no constitution that guarantees fundamental human rights of citizens in Nigeria. I believe that we must begin to scrutinize the activities of these agencies otherwise, their activities would soon plunge the country into full blown dictatorship.
    Why are you giving out the scholarship to the indigent students?
    I’m not doing this for any political ambition. If it was for political ambition, I would have selected who to give the scholarship to. I do not know whether any of the parents of the students who have received the scholarship belong to APC or PDP. I had asked the student union leaders to constitute a committee for nominating the beneficiaries with one or two eminent people. There is no politics in this, it is just to honour the memory of my late father who passed on some 40 years ago.
    I do a lot of things for my party as a member of the PDP but this is not about politics. I’m doing this for our youths because I love them and want to support their education because without education we are nobody. I’m privileged to do this because I have education.
    I don’t want our youths with great talents and potentials to waste away because their parents do not have money to sponsor
    I’m not doing this for any political ambition. If it was for political ambition, I would have selected who to give the scholarship to. I do not know whether any of the parents of the students who have received the scholarship belong to APC or PDP. I had asked the student union leaders to constitute a committee for nominating the beneficiaries with one or two eminent people. There is no politics in this, it is just to honour the memory of my late father who passed on some 40 years ago.
    I do a lot of things for my party as a member of the PDP but this is not about politics. I’m doing this for our youths because I love them and want to support their education because without education we are nobody. I’m privileged to do this because I have education.
    I don’t want our youths with great talents and potentials to waste away because their parents do not have money to sponsor their education.

  • Court adjourns PDP leadership suit indefinitely

    Court adjourns PDP leadership suit indefinitely

    The Special Panel of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, established to determine all appeals arising from the ongoing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership crisis has again adjourned its proceedings indefinitely.

    The Chairman of the panel, Justice Ibrahim Salaawu, disclosed this to the parties at the resumption of Thursday’s proceedings.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the panel had on November 18 adjourned indefinitely to await the decision of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, on the sister appeal.

    The judge also held that the court’s decision hinged on a notice of motion for stay of proceedings from the Supreme Court served on it by the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the PDP.

    Sheriff and the Chairman of the party’ Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi, are key figures in the leadership tussle that had engulfed the party for a better part of this year.

     

  • PDP crisis: Kwara PDP chair blames FG, INEC

    Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, has fingered the federal government and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the brains behind the crisis rocking the PDP in the country. He said this on Friday in Ilorin, the state capital, during a thanksgiving service prayers organised for the victory of the Ahmed Makarfi faction at the Supreme Court.

    “Even a blind man would know that the voice is that of Jacob while the hand is the hand of Esau. We have seen clearly that there is a connivance between the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government and INEC to muzzle PDP and if possible, get it into extinction, which God has not allowed,” Fagbemi said.

    On the victory of Ondo State PDP governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), at the Supreme Court, he said “actually, we have gathered to thank God for not allowing evil to prevail over good in this country. Given the benefit of hindsight, we knew what happened in 1993.

    A replica of the same is about happening in Ondo State if not that God has given the judges of the Supreme and Appeal Courts the courage to be able to adjudicate well. But for Jegede’s victory, may be anarchy would have broken out and that can truncate this nascent democracy.”

    The PDP chair said efforts are being made to reconcile the factions in the state. “A lot of things are being done. We have seen now that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his group are almost part of history now. It is the same thing that will happen here in Kwara State. But you will see that I have exercised extreme restraint not to say anything that will make our coming together difficult.

    I know we are members of the same family and even others have been wanting to join us, but if one refuses to be a sheep and the other behaves like a goat, we not be able to come together. But I know that God who is behind what is happening at the national level, will do ours in the state,” he said.

  • PDP crisis: My purported expulsion a nullity, says National Secretary

    PDP crisis: My purported expulsion a nullity, says National Secretary

    The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof Wale Oladipo, yesterday described his purported expulsion by an unknown group in Osun  State chapter  as “a nullity and of no effect”.

    He said the State Executive Council of the PDP cannot exercise disciplinary control on a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC).

    Oladipo, who made the clarifications in a statement in Abuja, said “I remain a life member of the PDP NEC even after my tenure as National Secretary.

    “No State Executive Council can suspend or expel a NEC member. The purported expulsion by a certain set of unknown PDP members masquerading as state exco members of the party in Osun State is an hallucination of highly disturbed minds”

    He described the author of the slanderous pronouncements as a “frustrated impostor at his wits end.”

    He warned party officials in the state “not to run afoul of the laws of the land by engaging in criminal contempt.”

    He, however, accused the group of playing the script of a discredited chieftain of the party from the state.

    Oladipo said he sympathized “with these misguided fellows on their frustration at being rejected by all well-meaning leaders of the party in Abuja due to the albatross around the neck of their lonely promoter.”

    He said he believes “in the capacity of the behind- the-scene efforts of genuine national leaders of the party to finally lay to rest the unfortunate crisis bedevilling the party.”