Sheriff as presidential candidate is death sentence to PDP, says Makarfi

Having Ali Modu Sheriff as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 is tantamount to a death sentence for the opposition party, says the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee of the party.

The Makarfi faction said this in response to Sheriff’s assertion that God will determine his ambition in 2019.

Spokesperson for the Makarfi camp, Dayo Adeyeye, said Sheriff cannot be trusted to conduct the party’s national convention.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Adeyeye said Sheriff had a hidden agenda and was planning to hijack the presidential ticket of the PDP.

“We have seen the handwriting on the wall. What Sheriff is doing is geared towards one goal; and that is to hijack the presidential ticket of the PDP come 2019,” he said.

“The former Borno State governor has clearly stated that he is interested in contesting the 2019 presidential election using the platform of our party, the PDP.

“We said it earlier, but most non-party members, as well as some members of the party, who could not see beyond the curtains, didn’t believe it.

“But we were sure that Senator Sheriff was holding the party to ransom because he wants to hijack the party and use it for his selfish interest.

“He has a hidden agenda which is to present himself as presidential candidate to the delight of the APC. That is why he is doing everything possible to tear this party (PDP) apart.

“Certainly, Sheriff has no good plans for the party. For Sheriff to be PDP presidential candidate will be like a death sentence to the party.

Adeyeye further noted that the Makarfi faction of the PDP “cannot accept a convention conducted by Sheriff”, stressing that the former Borno governor and his cronies are “agents of the APC”.

“I have no apologies for that,” he added.