Sheriff tells PDP stakeholders to get ready for convention

Ali Modu Sheriff, national chairman of the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on stakeholders to collaborate with him to facilitate a national unity convention.

For some time, stakeholders of the opposition party have been at loggerheads.

Ahmed Makarfi leads one arm of the party, while Sheriff, who leads the other faction, was recently affirmed the authentic chairman by an appeal court in Port Harcourt.

Recently, former President Goodluck Jonathan met with PDP governors in Abuja, and it was announced that stakeholders of the party  had agreed that a political solution should be embraced.

There were reports that Jonathan had asked Sheriff to step down for peace to reign, but Bernard Mikko, spokesperson of Sheriff’s faction, issued a statement of denial.

“The 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 former president and other stakeholders,” it said.

“PDP members nationwide and the media are hereby informed that shortly before the Court of Appeal judgment of February 17, 2017; all parties and stakeholders agreed that on the receipt of the court of appeal judgment whichever way it goes; members will be prevailed upon and urged to support the judgment 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 all stakeholders of the party.

“As a law-abiding citizen and advocate of the rule of law, Sheriff hereby calls on all stakeholders including but not limited to PDP governors; national and state assembly members; Board of Trustees (BoT) 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.”