PDP convention to hold Aug 17, chairmanship slot zoned to south

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scheduled August 17 for a fresh convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital.

This was disclosed at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja on Thursday.

The chairmanship position, which is causing controversy, has been zoned to the south, while the arrangement of zoning the 2019 presidential ticket to the north is still in place.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the meeting, Ahmed Makarfi, chairman of the caretaker committee, said full details of the fresh zoning arrangement would soon be made public.

He also said that the party would amend its constitution to address some of the reasons why a federal high court, sitting in Abuja, nullified the last amendment done by the party.

“We discussed some programmes leading to the convention, meaning that the national convention will hold on August 17 in Port Harcourt, where we will elect new national executive officers of the party,” he said.

“We have also discussed and agreed on a new amendment to the constitution in view of recent court judgments in order to align the constitution to the judgments that have been delivered by court of competent jurisdiction.”

Makarfi added that the meeting also received reports on its reconciliation process, saying it was now yielding positive impact, as Buruji Kashamu, a senator, has pledged his full support for the committee.

“You can see by yourself, our brother, friend and associate, Sen. Buruji Kashamu; that is evidence of the reconciliation making progress,” he said.

“I can assure you that we will never foreclose full reconciliation with the disputed National Chairman, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and another person that may still be associated with him.

“What we want is an all inclusive PDP, an equitable, fair and just system in the PDP.’’

He also said a reconciliation committee, which will be headed by Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, had been set up.

Makarfi’s committee was inaugurated in Port Harcourt on May 21.

Back then, he promised not to stay in office beyond three months, and also promised that no member of the committee will contest in the election to usher in fresh executives of the party.

Ali Modu Sheriff, factional chairman of the party, is yet to react to the latest development.