Jonathan meets with Sheriff, says PDP ‘not factionalised’

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday met with Ali Modu Sheriff, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Sheriff visited Jonathan at his residence in Abuja even as the Ahmed Makarfi faction and other PDP chieftains remain resolute in their opposition of the appeal court ruling that affirmed his chairmanship of the party.

Jonathan, after the meeting with Sheriff, said there was no faction in the PDP, maintaining that the party was united.

The former president said human beings were bound to have differences, especially politicians.

He made it known that he would also meet with other PDP stakeholders.

“We are not factionalised. We are one. There are bound to be differences in politics. We cannot run away from that,” Jonathan said.

“It is the way we resolve these differences that makes us human beings and that is what makes us leaders. I have met with Sheriff. And I have met with others.

“I will still meet with others, so that we will be able to do what is expected of us as a political party.”

In spite of Jonathan’s message of unity, the Makarfi faction says it has filed an appeal at the supreme court to challenge the decision of a lower court.

This was made known at the end of its stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Monday.

The police had earlier prevented the Makarfi-led faction from converging on the International Conference Center (ICC) for a meeting.

The caretaker committee subsequently moved the meeting to the Ekiti state government lodge in Abuja.