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  • Makarfi vows to flush Sheriff out of PDP

    Makarfi vows to flush Sheriff out of PDP

    •Party chair: I’m for peace

    The protracted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership crisis boiled over yesterday as Caretaker Committee Chairman Ahmed Makarfi vowed to flush out court-backed party chair Ali Modu Sheriff.

    But Sheriff insists that he means well for the PDP. He has accepted the recommendations of the 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.

    Makarfi camp spokesman Dayo Adeyeye 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 the PDP, would deploy all legal means to ensure that Sheriff is chased out of the party.

    Asking Sheriff to stop parading himself as the chairman of the PDP, 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 chairmanship on the ex-Borno State Governor.

    Said Adeyeye: “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 21st, 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 reaffirmed 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.

    “Once again, he is currently an illegal Acting National Chairman, given the decisions of the courts, the constitution of the PDP, decision of the National Convention coupled with his act of breaking and entering into the national secretariat of our great party.

    “It is interesting to note that Senator Sheriff is very much aware of the binding implication of the subsisting judgments on his ‘status’ as national chairman because we have been reliably informed that he is now seeking the leave of court to appeal the judgment. But, unfortunately, time is against this latter move. So, he is an illegal national chairman”.

    Ruling out any possibility of reconciliation with Sheriff, the Makarfi camp said there are more disturbing issues that could ultimately forestall efforts by stakeholders to unite Sheriff with the party.

    But Sheriff has continued to restate his pledge to rebuild and unite the party, saying that in line with the recommendations of the Dickson Committee, he would be convening the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in the days ahead.

    According to him, it is only NEC that can approve preparation for the national convention after deliberations.

    Sheriff said: “From today, I am going to meet with all the organs of the party and collect their list of membership with a view to picking their members to be part of the convention committee.

    “We are going to contact the National Assembly caucus, the Board of Trustees and other stakeholders. We are writing them formally on that, so that we can collect the specific number of nominees that are required.”

    He also hinted of plans to organise congresses in Oyo, Kwara, Sokoto, Lagos and Anambra states where attempts to conduct the exercise in 2016 collapsed.

    But the Makarfi camp dismissed the Sheriff camp’s plan with a wave of the hand, saying that none of the stakeholders would respond to its overtures. It called on party members in those states to boycott the congresses in case Sheriff decides to conduct same.

    Adeyeye said: “All the party organs and stakeholders are with us and none of them will respond to this deception. There is no way Sheriff would be allowed to conduct a convention for the PDP. It is at the convention that everybody would see his true self. He is an agent of the ruling party.

    “We wish to use this opportunity to inform and clarify to our members and teeming supporters nationwide that the PDP has no standing ‘Reconciliation Committee’ chaired by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Rt. Hon. Seriake Dickson.

    “However, we respect our Governor, Seriake Dickson and acknowledge his effort towards holding the next national convention. But he acted hastily and presented the proposal in error to Senator Sheriff.”

    According Adeyeye, the four ad-hoc committees set up by the party for the botched May 21, 2016 Port Harcourt convention ceased to exist. The ad hoc committees were inaugurated by Sheriff.

    Adeyeye listed the committees to include the National Convention Planning Committee, chaired by the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, with Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State as Deputy Chairman and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State as Secretary; the Reconciliation Committee is chaired by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Henry Seriake Dickson, with Senator Ibrahim Mantu as the Deputy Chairman;  and Finance Committee, chaired by the Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, with Senator Godswill Akpabio as the Deputy Chairman.

    The Zoning Committee is chaired by the Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State. Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State Mr. Kelechi Igwe is the Secretary.

    “These committees were inaugurated by Senator Sheriff as the Acting National Chairman on April 5, 2016 to carry out their specific roles in line with the directives of the 69th NEC for a hitch-free national convention in May 2016.

    “That Reconciliation Committee was constituted to reconcile aggrieved party members before the National Convention in Port Harcourt”, he added.

    The Caretaker Committee said it would continue to work with all the organs of the party to for reconciliation efforts that will bring lasting peace to the PDP, to the exclusion of Sheriff.

    Listing conditions for a way forward, the Caretaker Committee called on Sheriff to vacate the party secretariat immediately or risked being forced out by security agencies.

    “Given the lawless and untoward behavior of Senator Sheriff so far, it appears that there will be no meeting point in this matter. However, without prejudice to the appeal suit before the Supreme Court challenging the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, the National Caretaker Committee working for the organs of the party and the people is not averse to reconciliation processes that may result in a workable ‘political solution’ as proposed by the Governors’ Forum with the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

    “The present illegally constituted NWC, led by Senator Sheriff, must stop operations on behalf of the party immediately. We want to state unequivocally that the party will not hold any national convention under the leadership of Senator Sheriff.

    “We are determined to pursue the matter before the Supreme Court conclusively in the interest of justice, equity, fair play and democracy in general.

    “Finally, we call on all our members, teeming supporters and all lovers of democracy to be calm and continue to support the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee in its quest to return our great party to the people in line with the ideals of our founding fathers.

    “It is indeed our desire to rebuild, revive and revitalise the PDP in collaboration with all the organs and structures of the party that will culminate in a well-deserving, all-inclusive and participatory national convention very soon.

    “We enjoin you all to not despair because surely, justice shall be served; and we will reposition our party to reclaim government in 2019,” Adeyeye stated.

    But Sheriff said he would not join issues with his traducers,  particularly Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State who has been his most virulent critic.

    Said he: “Let me make it clear to some of the party members, particularly, Gov. Ayo Fayose that I will not condescend to his level. It must be very clear to him that the party has rules, and we will look at the constitution, at the appropriate time to do the right time.

    “He has made it a point of duty to be insulting Ali Sheriff everyday. I want to tell him that enough is enough. Belonging to a political party is by choice. Yes, you may have a right, but your right should not trample on another person’s right. Political party is a voluntary association.

    “If you are a leader of a political party, we have to allow people to have their choice of leadership. In all these things we are doing, we believe that PDP belongs to all Nigerians. We believe that PDP must be handed over to the owners.

    “The owners of the party must be allowed to do the right thing. That does not mean a sign of weakness. PDP that has produced 28 governors, today has 12. If we allow impunity to continue, Nigerians have the right to reject our party. You can take a horse to the river but you cannot force it to drink water.

    “We can make this party attractive to everybody. We want to reposition the party so that it can win elections. Nobody hasý the monopoly to do what they are doing, as if we don’t have the rule of law”.

  • 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.

     

  • Falegan urges Sheriff to sanitise pdp

    Falegan urges Sheriff to sanitise pdp

    A CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Hon. Opeyemi Falegan, has urged the National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff, to instil discipline in the party and prevent it from being hijacked by governors and their allies
    In a statement in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, Falegan noted that the prolonged leadership crisis rocking the party was being orchestrated and fueled by selfish, egocentric and self-centered politicians within the party.
    He said it was unfortunate that such politicians have vowed not to allow peace to reign in the party in a bid to actualise their inordinate ambition of pocketing the PDP at all cost.
    Falegan said it was imperative for all PDP stakeholders across the country to work together as an entity to rebuild and salvage the party.
    According to him, there is no better time to rebuild the PDP than now, hence the need for all to close ranks and move on in the interest of Nigerians.
    The politician explained that with the latest development from the Court of Appeal, the coast is clear for the Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Executive Committee to move the party to the next level and that it is now the responsibility of all lovers of democracy within and outside the party to support him.
    He said: “The PDP remains the only party in Nigeria that believes in the principles of justice, equity and good governance at all levels. The party will not dump such lofty ideals, but will continue to promote democracy in the country.
    “Therefore, anybody who believes he is too big to submit himself to the constituted authority in the party must be shown the way out, in order to allow peace and tranquility to reign. Whoever believes he has grown above the law of the party and the Nigerian Constitution, no matter how highly-placed he may be, must be called to order, as a way of bringing discipline back into the PDP.
    “Nobody will accept a situation whereby a certain cabal will continue to hold a whole party and country to ransom, because of their selfish agenda at the expense of all party loyalists in and outside the country, especially in the build up to the next general elections.
    “The marriage of inconvenience entered into by some state governors who believed they could manipulate Sheriff without following due process before crucial decisions are made had collapsed for our collective good.” The aim of such governors was to commercialise the party, thinking that the National Chairman will play the ball, along with them, not for the benefit of the electorate, but rather to make illegitimate and dubious gains at the expense of the Nigerian masses, especially PDP supporters across the country.”
    The United Kingdom-based politician also called on PDP chieftains to come together and support the Sheriff-led national executive members, who are determined to always protect the interest of all party members without bias, to reposition the PDP, saying “this will encourage him to organise an all-inclusive national convention where an acceptable new chairman will emerge.”
    He called on the National Chairman to, as a matter of urgency, look at all issues affecting the party dispassionately and bring everybody on board again, in order to make the party stronger, to take up its leadership position in the country.
    Falegan added: “Efforts must be concentrated on how to make reconciliation and call a truce where necessary, in order to reposition the PDP and win subsequent elections and at the same time. Those who erred must also be sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others in future.”

  • 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.

  • Jonathan didn’t advise Sheriff to resign as chairman – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed a media report claiming that Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff was advised by former president Goodluck Jonathan to resign as the National chairman of the party.

    The acting National Publicity Secretary to the Sheriff faction, Mr. Bernard Mikko, stated this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    The statement said the issue of resignation as the political solution has neither been discussed nor put up for consideration with former President and other stakeholders as reported in some media.

    “As a law abiding citizen, Sheriff has been urging all stakeholders to make themselves available and offer advice on how to conduct the party’s national convention as soon as possible,” it added.

    The stakeholders, according to the statement, include PDP governors; national and state assembly members and Board of Trustees (BoT) members.

    NAN

     

  • PDP crisis: I won’t step down, says Sheriff

    PDP crisis: I won’t step down, says Sheriff

    •Party chairman insists on convention

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Alhaji All Modu Sheriff has ruled out stepping down as an option in the search for a political solution to the party’s leadership crisis.

    Key stakeholders in the party have been seeking “political solution” without being explicit on details.

    Sheriff was reacting to a media report indicating that former President Goodluck Jonathan had asked him and Caretaker Committee Chairman Senator Ahmed Makarfi to step down and allow the party’s governors to nominate a chairman.

    In a statement yesterday signed on his behalf by his appointed party spokesman, Mr. Bernard Mikko, Sheriff said the issue of resignation did not come up during his meeting with the former President last week.

    The statement said: “The general public, PDP members and the media are hereby informed that the issue of the National Chairman’s resignation as the political solution has never been discussed nor was it put up for discussion with the former President and other stakeholders.

    “The general public, PDP members nationwide and the media are hereby informed that shortly before the Court of Appeal judgement of February 17, 2017; all parties and stakeholders agreed that on the receipt of the Court of Appeal judgement, whichever way it goes, members will be prevailed upon and urged to support the judgement and orders of the Court of Appeal and rally round the successful party to conduct; as soon as possible a national unity convention for the election of officers; the modalities of which shall be worked out by stakeholders of the party.

    “As a law-abiding citizen and advocate of the rule of law, the National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff hereby calls on all stakeholders, including but not limited to PDP governors, national and state assembly members, Board of Trustee members, to make themselves available and give their input on how we can, as quickly as possible, conduct a national unity convention where our national officers will be elected. The National Chairman has promised and undertaken not to contest.”

    Efforts by our correspondent to get the reaction of the Makarfi camp did not yield results. Repeated telephone calls and SMS messages to the spokesman of the Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, were left unanswered.

    Also yesterday, another reconciliation committee of the party, headed by Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, met with some party leaders and some PDP National Assembly members in Abuja.

    A statement signed by Dickson after the meeting also harped on the need to find a political solution to the crisis, describing it as the best option.

    The Dickson committee endorsed the resolution reached by Jonathan and the governors, “without prejudice to the ongoing judicial processes”.

    The statement said: “As part of this process, it is imperative that an early convention within the second quarter of 2017 should be held in Abuja, which, therefore, should be all-inclusive and where new national officials of the party will be freely, fairly and transparently elected.

    “In furtherance of this, the reconciliation committee shall embark on extensive consultations with all stakeholders with a view to building confidence and necessary consensus toward the unity convention.

    “The committee, however, appeals to all party leaders and members of PDP to exercise restraint and focus on the loyalty to and the overall interest of the party.”

    Meanwhile, Sheriff yesterday announced Dr. Ahmed Gulak, a former Political Adviser to former President Jonathan as his Chief of Staff, with the appointment taking immediate effect.

  • Tight security as Sheriff resumes at PDP secretariat

    Tight security as Sheriff resumes at PDP secretariat

    There was tight security yesterday at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff resumed duties.
    Police and the Nigerian Civil and Security Defence Corps (NCSDC) personnel took position within and outside the secretariat building, while some took positions in adjoining streets.
    An operation truck belonging to the NCSDC was used to block the road leading to the main gate of the secretariat, forcing motorists to divert to only one of the dual carriage way in front of the building.
    One of the police officers told our correspondent that they were mobilised to provide security at the secretariat since Monday and that they were there to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
    Sheriff, who arrived the secretariat about mid-day, was accompanied by his appointed Deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; National Auditor, Adewole Adeyanju; Imo Senator, Hope Uzodinma; and a retinue of aides.
    He was on hand to receive a group of party women from Imo State who came to pay a solidarity visit.
    The women, adorned in attire with Uzodinma’s portrait, chanted praises of Sheriff and Uzodinma throughout their meeting with the party chairman.
    Sheriff assured the visiting women of a more organised PDP under his leadership, saying that his mission was to return the party to the grassroots, particularly the women and the youths.
    Workers at the secretariat however stayed away, apparently in solidarity with the rival Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee.

  • PDP crisis: It’s Sheriff’s crown, Makarfi’s crowd

    PDP crisis: It’s Sheriff’s crown, Makarfi’s crowd

    The recent judgment of the Court of Appeal affirming Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sent the combatants in the factions back to the trenches. Assistant Editor GBADE OGUNWALE reports.

    There seems to be no end to in sight the leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The recent judgment by the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal has rekindled the animosity within the fold. By the strength of the appellate court’s ruling and in the eyes of the law, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is the national chairman of the PDP. But, the National Caretaker Committee, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has initiated the process of challenging the ruling of the appellate court at the Supreme Court.
    Although the Appeal Court has given the crown to Sheriff, Makarfi is still holding on to the PDP crowd. While Sheriff has only a handful of followers on his side, Makarfi has all the critical organs and party stakeholders lining up behind him. At a stakeholders meeting convened by the Makarfi camp on last week, the governors, the National Assembly caucus, the league of ex ministers, the Board of Trustees and prominent chieftains were present. They took turns to express their opposition to Sheriff’s headship of the party. According to them, the former Borno State governor is not a fit and proper person to lead the PDP. In a communique issues after the meeting, they unanimously agreed to challenge the decision of the Court of Appeal at the Supreme Court.
    But, Sheriff is not leaving things to chances. Shortly after the verdict, he had visited to former military President, Ibrahim Babangida at his Minna hilltop mansion. Former Governor of Niger State Babangida Aliyu, accompanied Sheriff on the visit. Although details of the meeting with General Babangida were not made public, it was apparent that Sheriff went on an endorsement mission. While the Makarfi camp was still meeting to protest against his leadership, Sheriff was having yet another consultation with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja. Like the meeting with Babangida, details of the consultation with Jonathan were also not made public.
    However, Jonathan kept addressing Sheriff as “my chairman” after the meeting, a gesture many have interpreted to be a tacit endorsement of Sheriff by the former President. But, Jonathan has come out to deny endorsing Sheriff as the party chair. In a reaction by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, the ex President said addressing Sheriff as “my chairman” did not translate to endorsement of the former Borno governor.
    “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. He 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 issues in the leadership of the PDP were 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, in view of the imperative of deepening the nation’s democracy. It stated further, “I wish to let those spinning this falsehood know that it just doesn’t add up to fly a contrived banner of endorsement in one breath, and in another, concede that the former President explained his commitment in meeting with different interest groups, towards resolving the differences in the party”.
    Those that accompanied Sheriff on the visit included a former Political Adviser Ahmed Gulak; Sheriff’s Deputy Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; National Secretray Prof Wale Oladipo and National Auditor Adewole Adyanju among others. Speaking after the meeting, Jonathan declared that there was no division within the PDP and that the differences among the camps would be addressed by elders of the party.
    Apparently ruffled by the warm reception accorded Sheriff by Jonathan, a group of ex cabinet ministers that served under Jonathan decided to also visit the ex president. Led by a former Special Duties Minister, Taminu Turaki, the ex ministers also met with Jonathan behind closed doors for more than two hours. Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Turaki said they exchanged fruitful ideas on the way forward with the ex president regarding the crisis in the party. Turaki canvassed understanding by parties to the crisis, adding that internal mediation process was ongoing.
    According to him, leaders and elders of the party are alive to their responsibilities and the need to forge ahead. Stating that the crisis in the PDP was not new, Turaki said reconciliation moves would be going hand-in-hand with the cross appeal initiated at the Supreme Court by the Makarfi camp.
    “Even after the Supreme Court must have given its verdict, we will still sit together to explore reconciliation options”, Turaki stated. The ex minister also hinted that the group would meet with other stakeholders, including Sheriff in the days ahead. Asked to give highlight of the ex ministers’ meeting with Jonathan, Turaki said the ex president himself would issue a statement to that effect. Other ex ministers that joined Turaki at the meeting with Jonathan included Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Senator Bala Mohammed, Mr. Osita Chidoka, Mr. John Odey, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, Alhaji Aminu Wali among others.

    Genesis of the crisis:
    The crisis was triggered by inertia at the level of leadership, shortly after the party lost its grip on political power at the centre at the 2015 general election. Following the resounding defeat at the poll, pressure intense pressure by a vocal segment of party stakeholders forced the then party chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu to resign in May 2015.
    The then Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus was then made to act as chairman, pending the election of another substantive chairman from the same geopolitical zone Mu’azu hailed from. While the party’s prescribed a period of six months for the Acting Chairman, the party leadership failed to tow the line. This led to restiveness among interested chieftains from Mu’azu’s North East zone.
    Long after the expiation Secondus’ acting tenure, Ahmed Gulak mobilised his supporters and invaded the party secretariat to take over the leadership. The ensuing crisis forced the leadership to appoint a substantive chairman from the North East, to complete Mu’azu’s truncated tenure. Sheriff was not one of the five aspirants that jostled for the position. Curiously, his name came up at the last minute and the party’s governors, led by Governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers) decided to impose Sheriff as chairman. In a swift reaction, all the critical party organs, including the BoT, the league of ex Ministers and party elders, had mobilised and united against the choice of Sheriff. The disagreements dragged for several days, but the governors eventually had their way. Sheriff was installed national chairman amid protestations by key stakeholders.
    As soon as he was made chairman, ex Borno governor started his political brinkmanship aimed at consolidating his position. With the active backing from Fayose and Wike, Sheriff was primed to become substantive chairman, to remain in office for another four years. Pronto, preparations were made to hold a convention in Port Harcourt, primarily to “coronate” Sheriff as chairman. And by tradition, Sheriff was billed to preside over the convention.
    At this point, a stakeholders group, headed by a former Information Minister, Prof Jerry Gana threatened to convene a parallel convention to counter the proposed one in Port Harcourt. The Gana group, comprising a good number of prominent party chieftains and ex ministers, made good their threat by assembling in Abuja for a parallel convention, to hold simultaneously with the proposed one in Port Harcourt.
    Apparently scared by the prospects of having a divided house, the organisers of the Port Harcourt convention called off the exercise. They removed Sheriff as chairman right at the botched convention ground. In his place, they had empaneled a Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the party, pending the election of a substantive chairman. The seven-man panel was headed by Makarfi.
    But Sheriff, would have none of it, as he continued to insist that he remained the party chair. The ding-dong affair led to a litany of court cases initiated by the two camps, seeking to consolidate their hold on the party. The governors, the Bot, ex Ministers, the National Assembly caucus and other leaders of the party, took sides with the Makarfi camp. But Sheriff continued to fight on, employing every tactic in the books to outsmart his opponents.

    The case against Sheriff:
    The major issue with Sheriff is mistrust. They party organs and stakeholders are agreed in their opinion that Sheriff cannot be trusted with the leadership of the party. According to them, the ex Borno Governor has a history of betraying his political party in the past. They cited the role he played while he was a financier of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in opposition. As a chieftain of the ANPP, Sheriff had worked for the PDP against the interest of the ANPP at every election cycle since 2003. Accordingly, they have come to the conclusion that he would do the same against the interest of the PDP in the 2019 general elections. But with the judgment of the appellate court, Sheriff remained chairman, whether his opponents like it or not. And until the cross appeal filed by the Makarfi camp is decided, the PDP must learn to face the reality of having Sheriff as National Chairman.

    Sheriff’s confidence building drive:
    In a bid to build and shore up confidence among key stakeholders, Sheriff has initiated consultations across the various zones and among key elders of the party. Part of the move was his recent civil to the homes of Gen. Bababangida and former President Jonathan.
    Reacting to the various remarks by the Makarfi camp, the party chair said he would not join issues with anybody, stressing that the constitution of the party does not recognise caretaker committee. His words, “There is only one PDP and there is only one national chairman. A group of people has the right to sit and discuss as only a group of people but not as PDP. If I go down to their level to exchange words with them, then I would not be different from them.
    He added: “We don’t have anything like caretaker committee in our party. As father of the party, I will make sure everybody is united. I will make sure that everybody gets what they want in PDP. By the time I finished my convention, Nigerians will know that we mean well for the party”. But does Sheriff mean well for the PDP as he claims, or is he out to destroy the party as alleged by his antagonists? The answer lies in the belly of time. For now, Sheriff is holding tight to the crown, while Makarfi is pulling the crowd.