Your tenure ends on May 21, PDP tells Sheriff

The national executive committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed May 21 as the end of the tenure of Ali Modu Sheriff, the party’s national chairman.

This was announced in a communiqué issued at the end of the 69th regular meeting of the committee.

The committee also demanded the immediate release of the four members of the Ekiti state house of assembly, alleging that they were unjustly being held by security agencies of the federal government.

The communiqué read: “NEC approved the time-table for the party’s congresses and national convention. Congresses commence on Saturday, April 23, 2016 and culminate in the national convention on Saturday, May 21, 2016.

“NEC approved the party’s guidelines for congresses and the national convention. National convention holds in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

“After exhaustive deliberations, NEC approved the extension of the tenure of office of all organs of the party at all levels until the conduct of congresses and national convention. This is however with the exception of Edo and Ondo States.

“NEC condemn the incessant harassment, maltreatment and unlawful incarceration of PDP leaders at various levels by government controlled law enforcement and prosecution agencies.

“Condemned the Friday, March 4, 2016 invasion and raiding of Ekiti state house of assembly and subsequent arrest and continued detention of four PDP members of the House by the Directorate of State Services (DSS) on trumped-up charges.

“Demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the four PDP members of the Ekiti House of Assembly by the DSS.

“Resolved to stand in solidarity with all Nigerians whose fundamental rights as citizens are being infringed upon by the federal government.

“Called on the international community and all civil rights organizations world-wide to take note of the denial of fundamental human rights, abuse of liberties and freedom of individuals; and the rapid descent of Nigeria into totalitarianism.

“NEC also condoled with the families of its 18 members who were brutally murdered in Ogoni land in Rivers state as well as with the federal government and the government of Kogi state over the unfortunate death of the late minister of state for labour, Barr. James Ocholi, and resolved to send a high-powered delegation to condole with his family.”