PDP Crisis: Gov. Dickson 'Betrayed' Us; I'm Shocked - Makarfi ... New Twist Springs

The chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi has expressed displeasure with Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state.

Makarfi’s anger at Dickson stemmed from the publicity given the governor’s presentation of a committee report to the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff on Tuesday.

Among others, the said report contained recommendations for the conduct of a national convention, tentatively fixed for June 30.

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In a statement he circulated in Abuja on Wednesday, Makarfi faulted the Bayelsa Governor for making the report public without consultation with relevant stakeholders.

According to him, the governor spurned advice to circulate and consult widely with key organs and stakeholders, adding that the said report was still subject to review and amendment.

Makarfi said Dickson presented him with a draft of the report and that he had advised the governor to ensure proper consultation and effect some changes before making it public.

“I am shocked and disappointed that the Gov. of Bayelsa made public presentation of a purported report approved or endorsed by us and other stakeholders as reported.

“He met me yesterday (Tuesday) and I pointed out the problems with his proposals. That it will go against even the Court of Appeal Judgement.

“At the end, I told him as Caretaker Committee, whatever is approved by the organs of the party that we represent, we will work with and I advised him to revert back to his colleagues and other organs. But this is what we are seeing.

“Be that as it may, the Committee never saw any draft report even though he promised coming with it. In any case, as personal advice, I referred him back to the organs of the party and the Goodluck Jonathan Committee. There was nothing before us from organs of the party to accept or reject”.

The said report had conceded to Sheriff powers to preside over the proposed and to select 12 members into the Convention Planning Committee, in consultation with party stakeholders.

Among those listed as members of the Convention Planning Committee include seven serving governors, seven serving senators, 12 members of the House of Reps, six members of the BoT and six national vice chairmen.

Others include 18 zonal chairmen, six Speakers of state assemblies; six former governors, former presiding officers of the National Assembly, six prominent Women Leaders, six youth leaders and six former ministers.

TRENDING... PDP Crisis: Makarfi Group Surrenders, Recognises Sheriff As Chairman ...Gov. Dickson Submits Convention Report To Sheriff

More Trouble Looms In Edo PDP As 3 Candidates Picks Sheriff Form For Another Guber Primary

The national crisis bedeviling the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has crippled itself into Edo State as three candidates have purchased Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party form for another gubernatorial primary election.

Last week, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu emerged as the winner of Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the PDP governorship primary election in Edo State

Two governorship aspirants who lost out in the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governorship primary, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and Solomon Edebiri, have taken another shot at the party’s ticket by purchasing the governorship nomination form from the Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction of the party, Ripples Nigeria reports

it was also gathered that the member representing Egor/Ikpoba Okha Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, E.J. Agbonayima has also picked the form.

Edebiri, after the primary election in which Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, emerged as PDP governorship flagbearer, discredited the process of the election, saying that the elders of the party were biased.

He said he is consulting with his members and will take a decision on his next action in the coming weeks.

And just days after the election, factional national chairman of the party, Sheriff at a media briefing claimed that three aspirants have picked his faction’s governorship form, adding that he has fixed a date to conduct the primary election.

Sheriff stated this on Thursday at his residence in Abuja, giving details of his faction’s election thus – governorship primaries slated for Wednesday, June 29, while screening appeal is billed for Friday, July 1.

He has been strongly accused by many of the party members of being planted by the All Progressives Congress (APC), and assiduously working with them to unsettle PDP, especially in the coming Edo and Ondo states elections.

Ahmed Makarfi , chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee on Thursday, described Sheriff as being “desperate to destroy” the party.

A statement by spokesman of the Makarfi faction, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, also claimed that the party leadership has uncovered further plans by Senator Sheriff and his supporters to deceive gullible members of the party, security agencies and the general public to support his ambition to remain as chairman of the party by claiming he has a court order.

“It is now very clear that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is working very hard for the enemies of our great party. First, the Edo Primary Election and all the processes leading to it thereof were properly conducted, monitored and observed by INEC.

Edo PDP chairman has warned Sheriff to stay clear of their affairs as the party in the state is resolutely united behind Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu,” he said

PDP Crisis: Sheriff 'SEIZES' Party's Bank Accounts, Reveals His '2019 Agenda'

The embattled national and factional chairman of the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff may have seized the party's bank accounts from the reach of the Ahmed Makarfi-led national caretaker committee.

This disclosure was made by Sheriff on Thursday at a press briefing in Abuja stating he and the treasurer under the sacked National Working Committee, NWC, are the signatories to the party’s bank account. He further stressed that his team and not the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee is signatory to the party’s account.

He said, “Myself and the Treasurer who is also a member of the NWC are signatories to the bank accounts of the PDP. Makarfi may also open another account in the name of his caretaker committee if he wished.

“There is only one PDP, which is the one under my leadership. Anyone who thinks the Makarfi contraption can work is deceiving himself. I am the only chairman of the PDP recognised by the courts, the constitution and the Electoral Act.”

The embattled leader also criticised the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose over his public conduct, describing it as shameful.

Sheriff denied report sthat he wanted to run for President, stressing that he didn’t promise anybody the Vice President’s slot.

He was reacting to Fayose’s comment that he was sacked as the National leader of the opposition party because he was scheming for the 2019 presidential ticket and was allegedly teasing some party chieftains with the slot of the Vice Presidential candidate.

“I am ashamed at the way and manner Fayose is conducting himself in the country. I was once a governor; so, I know that the position of governor is a very serious one that demands responsible behaviour.

“I never told anybody I wanted to run for president and I did not promise anybody the vice presidential ticket. I have decided not to join issues with Fayose.”

Police IG Goes Partisan, Moves To Resolve PDP's UN-RESOLVABLE Crisis As More Faction Emerges

The Nigeria's Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has reportedly made a move to resolve the messy crisis that bedeviling the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP. The police boss has reportedly met with both gladiators, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi. The move, which could either be described as partisan, rather than peacekeeping News Punch has learnt

The PDP's crisis, which it leaders could not resolve is taking a massive toll on the party’s fortunes across the states of the federation as no fewer than 20 state chapters have become factionalised

Mrs. Olabisi Kolawole, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), yesterday disclosed in a statement that the IGP met Makarfi and Modu- Sheriff in company with the Director-General (DG) of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura, where both men were asked to nominate four representatives each, who will meet within a week, to find solutions to the crisis rocking the party.

Noting that the Wadata Secretariat of the PDP, as well as the Legacy House remain shut, Kolawole said the meeting called for peace among the contending parties. 

Investigations have revealed that the PDP stalwarts in many states that received various sums of money for campaign during the 2015 elections are under investigation while the tussle between Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction and Ahmed Makarfi’s caretaker committee for the soul of the party have exacted a huge price on the erstwhile ruling party.

According to Saturday Telegraph, a large number of state secretariats of the party are practically deserted, as activities are either skeletal or non-existent. Apart from the lull in activities in the states, many of the employees are also being owed backlog of salaries as well as being sharply divided in their support of Sheriff and Makarfi, which has led to the emergence of factions in some states.

How the Police boss will resolve partisan crisis remain unimaginable as moves by party leaders to find a solution to the crisis have been efforts in futility. 

Already, thugs loyal to the former Borno governor yesterday took over the Wadata Plaza national secretariat of the party, vowing to unleash attack on whoever except Modu Sheriff will come to occupy the office.

PDP Crisis: Atiku, Northern Cabals FINGERED, You'll Be Shocked At This Revelations

The current crisis bedevilling the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has been narrowed down to tussle of who picks the party's presidential ticket in 2019 as the ambition of some notable Northern politicians includ­ing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is at the root of the leader­ship tussle confronting the erstwhile ruling party, the Saturday Sun Newspaper has revealed. 

The findings, which is contrary to claims by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi caretaker committee that the ruling All Pro­gressives Congress, (APC) was in­stigating the leadership tussle in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the root of the leader­ship tussle confronting the erstwhile ruling party.

Former Minister of State Works and spokesperson of the Ahmed Makarfi team, Dayo Adeyeye, addressing newsmen on Tuesday had alleged that the APC-led Federal Government was using the former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to destabilise the main opposition party ahead of Edo State governor­ship election and the 2019 general elections.

But it was gathered that political gladiators smarting to pick the PDP’s 2019 presidential ticket, have lined behind the factional chairmen and are now pulling the strings.

Ahead of his speculated return to the party, former Vice President and APC chieftain, Atiku Abubakar is believed to be giving moral and financial support to the Ahmed Ma­karfi committee, a creation of the party’s highest organ, the national convention.

But Atiku has denied involvement in the PDP crisis. Speaking through his media aide, Paul Ibe, the former Vice President said he remains a national leader of the ruling APC and was in no way in­volved in the leadership tussle rocking his former party.

He said: “It is ludicrous. The Turaki remains a member of APC and he is fully committed to the party and working with other stakeholders to de­liver its programmes to the people.

“What has changed to generate an interest? He has no interest in foisting any leadership on PDP. He remains a bonafide na­tional leader of APC. So, it is wrong for anyone to link him with PDP crisis.”

Saturday Sun also gath­ered that the two PDP governors in the North­east, Gombe State gover­nor, Ibrahim Dankwambo and Taraba State, Darius Ishaku are also backing the embattled former Bor­no State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff whose national working commit­tee was dissolved at the Port Harcourt convention.

While the motive of Gov­ernor Darius Ishaku for sup­porting Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is yet to be known, Gombe state governor is be­lieved to be eyeing the par­ty’s presidential ticket for the 2019 general elections.

The Makarfi commit­tee was mandated at the Convention held in Port Harcourt to administer the party for three months and conduct a convention that will produce substantive na­tional officers for the party.

A Saturday Sun source revealed that the two known contenders are positioning themselves ahead of the na­tional convention, to enable them plant their loyalists in the new national work­ing committee that would emerge and ultimately con­duct the presidential con­vention that would produce the party’s presidential flag­bearer.

Checks by our source revealed that the PDP National Executive Com­mittee (NEC) had upheld the report of the Senator Ike Ekweremadu Post- Election Review Commit­tee which recommended the zoning of the party’s 2019 presidential ticket to the North. Honourable Inua Bwala, media aide to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff could not be reached for comments as his line was switched off, as at the time of filing this report Friday evening.

The Sun

PDP Crisis: 2 The Secret Powerful Forces Behind Sheriff REVEALED

The All Progressives Congress, APC and the Presidency have been identified as the secret powerful forces behind Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, who are head bent and has vowed to  clinch to the leadership of the party till 2018, despite his acclaimed ouster at the Port Harcourt Convention.

The Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the party made alleged that the Presidency and the APC are stoking the leadership crisis. 

But the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday denied having anything to do with the leadership crisis rocking the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Reacting to the allegation, the APC said the PDP is suffering from the sins of the past. 

The National Secretary of APC,  Mai Mala Buni, in a statement said: “For the umpteenth time, the APC wishes to state that instead of joining issues with the baseless and laughable allegations, the APC would rather join issues that will bring about-all-inclusive development in the country.

“However, it should be put on record that the PDP foisted on them whatever crisis it is troubled with today due to its politics of imposition and other undemocratic practices which the APC abhors.

“The PDP should put its house in order rather than playing to the gallery and blaming others but themselves for their sins which have come to hunt them. Also, it is evident that the PDP has chosen to employ diversionary tactics because of its inability to produce credible candidates for the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states”.

The caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of hiring “ousted” PDP Chairman Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff to destroy the PDP.

Sheriff was removed as party chairman at the May 21 botched national convention in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where a caretaker committee was told to take charge of the party’s affairs.

But Sheriff on Monday stormed the party’s Abuja headquarters to take charge of its activities. He declared the caretaker committee as an “illegal” body and vowed to continue as chairman till December 2018.

At a media briefing yesterday, held at a private residence, spokesman of the  caretaker committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the aim of the APC was to scuttle the chances of the PDP in the upcoming governorship election in Edo State.

Said he: “The All Progressive Congress (APC) has contracted Sheriff and his cohorts to scuttle the chances of the PDP in the Edo governorship election.

“We have credible intelligence that Sheriff had a meeting on Sunday night with an APC governor from the Northwest, where it was agreed that he would be given full security and financial support to exacerbate the crisis in the PDP with the objective of preventing the PDP from presenting a candidate for the Edo governorship election, or in the very least, to prevent the PDP from offering a serious challenge to APC whose electoral fortunes have continued to nose-dive.

“What we are however very certain about is that Sheriff and his fellow renegades are being used by the enemies of the PDP to destroy our party and to prevent it from reorganising itself so as to provide a credible opposition and alternative platform for the forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial election and the 2019 general elections.”

Adeyeye also faulted the police for allowing Sheriff and his group access to the secretariat, saying the police could hardly justify the action.

“While we are still trying to understand the role of the police in the entire saga, it is curious that the police made no arrest of the thugs who openly brandished various dangerous weapons in and around the premises of the secretariat in full glare of the police.

“It is also curious that the police claimed to be acting on ‘orders from above’ in allowing Sheriff and his cohorts to gain entry into the secretariat. If we may ask, who is the authority that issued the ‘orders from above’?, he queried.

The committee spokesman dismissed the court orders on the strength of which Sheriff took control of the party’s secretariat, saying they were non existent.

According to him, the court order restraining Sheriff from parading himself as chairman is still subsisting until the determination of the motion on notice, which he said would come up for hearing on Thursday (tomorrow).

Adeyeye continued: “The motion on notice will come up for hearing on Thursday. Only three of the members of the defunct national officers are still parading themselves but constitutionally they cannot form a quorum for any legitimate business of the party.”

Adeyeye recalled that Sheriff was not elected but appointed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP to complete the tenure of erstwhile chairman Adamu Mu’azu, which terminated on February 14.

He pointed out that Sheriff was given an extension of three months by the NEC to organise a national convention but that his appointment was not ratified at the Port Harcourt convention.

Adeyeye said: “So, constitutionally, he has no other mandate which can extend beyond May 21, 2016. The national convention is the supreme organ of the party under Article 33 (02) of the PDP constitution.

“In the exercise of its power under Article 33(5)(b) & (e) of the constitution, the national convention removed all officers of the party and set up a caretaker committee to plan and organize a national convention within 90 days.

“The national convention of the PDP can only be called by NEC and once that is done, it is only the national convention that can cancel or postpone its proceedings.

“No individual or other organ of the party can postpone or cancel the national convention. The national convention, therefore, took place legally and constitutionally.”

The spokesman said the committee would not be distracted by the activities of fifth columnists in the party.

Amidst Crisis, PDP BOT, NEC hand over to Makarfi

Amidst persistent leadership crisis within the opposition peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the outgone National Executive Committee and Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday formally handed over power to the Interim NEC of the party in Abuja.

The Party's embattled interim National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff had earlier shunned a peace meeting called by the leadership of the party. Sheriff had insisted he remained the national chairman and had as well approached a court to that effect.

The Interim NEC is headed by a former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

At the handing over at the party’s secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, the former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, said: “The party is one and is strong.

“On behalf of members of the former National Working Committee of the PDP, I am here to handover to the Caretaker Committee Chairman.

“We are ready to work with you.

“We are ready to cooperate with you.”

Secondus enjoined party leaders at all levels to go back to their localities and rebuild the party.

He said all politics is local.

He said it is not enough to remain in Abuja and claim to have a large following.

The Chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, said the body did not take over the running of the affairs of the party as earlier reported.

Jibrin said the BoT only held the assets and liabilities of the party in trust.

He appealed to party members of the party to cooperate with the Makarfi-led Interim Caretaker Committee to enable it deliver on its mandate.

PDP Crisis: Sheriff Shuns Reconciliation Meeting, Jets Out of The Country

The much expected conciliatory meeting of leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with aggrieved members of the party took off on a shaky note last night at the Ondo State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

The meeting originally scheduled for 8:30p.m did not take off as at 9.30p.m due to late arrival of expected participants.

The meeting was expected to be attended by governors elected on the platform of the party, members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), the PDP National Assembly caucus, caretaker committee set up in Port-Harcourt at the convention led by Ahmed Makarfi as well as the group loyal to immediate past chairman of the party, Ali Modu-Sheriff.

Modu-Sheriff has refused to back down since his removal from office on May 21, at the Port-Harcourt convention, and has gone ahead to institute a court case against the party.

It was gathered that yesterday meeting was particularly delayed because of the decision of Modu-Sheriff to stay away from the meeting as he was said to have jetted out of the country on Sunday night, a move being interpreted as deliberately taken so he could have tangible excuse to be away from the meeting.

The governors were said to have been shocked to hear of Modu-Sheriff’s sudden overseas trip, given the fact that he was said to have assured the party leaders that he would be at the meeting.

Modu-Sheriff camp is the only faction in the party resisting reconciliation as the Concerned Stakeholders group led by Prof. Jerry Gana has accepted to work with the caretaker committee.

At the Ondo State Governor’s Lodge last night, it was gathered that the idea of postponing the meeting was mooted by some of the governors who were angry with the decision of Modu-Sheriff to jettison the meeting.

The reconciliation meeting, it was gathered, was called principally because of his group.

Senator Buruji Kashamu was also expected to be at the meeting as a supporter of Modu-Sheriff.

However, a close ally of Modu-Sheriff told this newspaper that the angry former chairman has made up his mind to see through his court case against the party, as he holds on to his belief that he remains the national chairman of the party.

“We are not aware of any meeting. Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff as the National Chairman of the party did not call any meeting, so it will be unwise of him to attend any meeting so called without his consent.

“Whatever decision allegedly taken by anybody or any group of persons at any illegal meeting will not be acceptable to the Chairman, he didn’t call any meeting, so, there is no meeting holding anywhere as far as Senator Modu-Sheriff is concerned”, the source said.

As at press time, the vicinity of the Ondo State Governor’s Lodge was virtually empty as the governors were yet to arrive, but it was learnt that members of the Concerned PDP Stakeholders Forum and members of the BoT were locked in a meeting at the venue.

TheNiche

PDP Sacks New Chairman, Makarfi Too As Crisis Goes Offhand

The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) assumed a new dimension Wednesday, with the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT) saying it had taken over the leadership of the party pending the resolution of the leadership tussle in the fold.

The Chairman of the Board, Walid Jibrin, told members of staff of the party at its National Secretariat, Abuja, that both the party’s National Working Committee led by former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and the Interim National Caretaker Committee led by former Governor Ahmed Makarfi had been sacked.

Mr. Jibrin said consequently, the BOT had taken over the running of the party.

He said that the action of the BOT became imperative in order not to allow vacuum in the party’s operations as well as to resolve the leadership crisis within the party.

“Today, the BOT remains the only legal body now in the whole set up and that is why we are here to play our role,” Mr. Jibrin said.

“We are not here to take over the secretariat. We are here to perform our duties as enshrined in the constitution, hoping that our problems will be resolved soon.

“We, the BOT have taken it upon ourselves to ensure we play a great role in resolving the problems.

“We have gone very far in resolving them. We have made some contacts and consultations.

“We are not here to cast blame on anybody. If it means to go to anybody to solve the problem, we will do so.’’

He said the BOT had been receiving great cooperation from elders and leaders of PDP for it to do its job.

Mr. Jibrin, who said that the board would play its role without fair or favour, assured that the BOT would do its best to return normalcy to the party.

“The PDP has come to stay. PDP will never die,” he said. PDP will continue to rule.

“We are only on sabbatical leave and once the sabbatical is over, we are going to take over our leadership because it is our own. We are going back in 2019. But we can only do that if we cooperate and unite.’’

Mr. Jibrin, however, commended the Nigeria Police for securing the party’s secretariat by barricading access into it.

“At this critical moment, what we need is to secure our property, to safeguard your lives, and to allow members of staff of the party to work under a very good atmosphere.

“We, the BOT are entrusted under the constitution of our party to be in charge of the assets and liability of PDP.’’

Mr. expressed optimism that the party would meet the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline on submission of the party candidate’s nomination form on the forthcoming Edo state governorship election.

“We are putting our heads together with our lawyers,” the BOT chairman said.

“We are rest assured that everything would be in order very soon, with the reconciliation that is going on which will not last long.’’

On his part, the BOT Secretary, Ojo Maduekwe, said the BOT intervened because of litigations surrounding the national caretaker committee set up in Port Harcourt on May 21, at its national convention.

“Concerning the national caretaker committee, the matter is being resolved.

“It will either be resolved by negotiation or by vacating the court orders. We will prefer the matter is resolved internally,’’ Mr. Maduekwe said.

He said that the biggest impunity was for any party member to go to court on any issue without engaging internal mechanism in addressing it.

Members of staff of PDP who were blocked for over a week were allowed access to their offices on Tuesday by the police who had barricaded the secretariat since May 22.

(NAN)

PDP Crisis: Anambra, Benue House of Reps Members Dump Party, Joins APC

The leadership crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP took new twist today as tow of its lawmaker dumped the party and join the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Two members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives on Wednesday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The members are Tony Nwoye from Anambra and Udende Emmanuel from Benue.

In separate letters read by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, on the floor of the House, the members cited division in the PDP as the reason for their defection.

They said since the PDP had broken into three factions headed by Ali Modu Sheriff, Ahmed Makarfi and Jerry Gana, respectively, they did not wish to belong to any faction.

However, the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor (Delta-PDP), in a point of order protested the position of the members alleging that the PDP was divided.

He said that no recognised institution such as the courts had ruled that the party had split into factions.

In a remark, Mr. Dogara said there was no need to debate the matter as the issue of the PDP would be handled at the national level.

(NAN)

PDP Crisis: Sheriff, Makarfi 'Chased Out' By PDP BoT At Ongoing Abuja Truce Meeting

The embattled ousted Chairman of the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Chairman of the newly-constituted caretaker committee of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi were both sent out of an ongoing truce meeting by the party leaders and BoT in Abuja, Daily Post jus reported

Sheriff arrived the venue of the meeting at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja at about 11:10 am and was followed five minutes later by Makarfi.

Upon their arrival, the chairman of the Board, Senator Jibril Wali announced that the board has a very important decision to take before the commencement of the meeting. At that point, reporters were asked to leave the hall.

Shortly after the announcement, both Sheriff and Makarfi were seen walking out of the hall even as the meeting continued.

Details soon

One Party, 3 Chairmen CRISIS: PDP NASS Lawmakers Set To Defect To APC Massively As Pressure Mounts

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party National Assembly members may massively defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress over unending crisis ravaging the party that has produced three chairmen running parallel affairs of the party, News Punch has learnt

The party report says is now at the risk of losing most of its elected members at both chambers of the National Assembly especially from the non-PDP controlled states to the All Progressive Congress (APC) if it failed to find an amicable resolution to its crisis, report according to Nigerian tribune suggests

The chieftains of the ruling party are already in serious talks with lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly on the need for most of them to dump the former ruling party with assurances of several offers, including automatic ticket to return in 2019 general elections, Tribune reported

According to our source the most targeted states are Anambra, Lagos, Edo Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Yobe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Ogun, Oyo and Osun.

It was gathered that following the three divisions that emerged in the Party on last Saturday, APC leadership reportedly directed its leaders in the affected states to everything possible to bring the PDP lawmakers into its fold since the electoral law allows defection once there is a division within a political party without losing one's seat.

A member of the PDP in the National Assembly who confirmed this development to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja yesterday said that this might forced the party members  to come together to resolve their   problems

"The pressures are just too much; the leaders of the APC are mounting serious pressures on us to come over to them, following the latest development in our party, the pressures are coming with various promises and am afraid some of our members may bow to the pressures since they will have nothing to lose," the source.

According to our source, "we cannot continue to waste our time and resources; we are tired of the ending crises, there are factions here and there in all the states and the zone and all fighting for selfish interests, we thought the coming of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff would unite the party but alas, look at what is happening now, PDP is supposed to be providing a credible opposition to the ruling APC.

This came just as the National Secretariat of the former ruling Party, popularly known as "WADATA Plaza" in Abuja remained sealed on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase.

The Plaza was sealed off in the early hours of Sunday, following the three divisions that emerged in the Party on Saturday with the three factions threatening to take over the party secretariat on Monday.

The road leading to the Plaza were barricaded with two trucks belonging the Nigeria Police Force, while the staff of the secretariat, journalists and visitors were politely turned back by the stern looking mobile police personnel.

The staff and journalists covering the party were seen in groups discussing the lasted development in the Party.

The Caretaker Committee headed by the former Haduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Markarif, put in place at the Port-Harcourt convention to oversee the affairs of the party did not show up as expected while the Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Working Committee, which rejected the Caretaker Committee and vowed to take over the secretariat was said to be attending a crucial meeting at a location in the city and the third faction led by Senator Ibrahim Mantu was nowhere to be found.

As at press time, the Board of Trustees of the party was said to be meeting on the crisis in the Party

Credit: Nigerian Tribune

I'm Still In Charge, Battered Sheriff Fights Back As PDP Struggles With 3 National Chairmen

The ex-governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff has declared that he is still the authentic party Chairman of the crisis-ridden opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, describing the conventions that reportedly sacked him as Illegal.

Yesterday, both Port Hacourt and Abuja version of the party's convention had produced two different interim leaders respectively. While the Abuja faction led by Jerry Gana picked Ibrahim Mantu, a former Senator; the Port Harcourt  faction led by Sheriff picked Ahmed Makarfi, a former governor; totalling 3 leaders who are all poised to lead the party, News Punch understands

Sheriff, who spoke with one of our correspondents through his media aide, Inuwa Bwala, said the constitution of the party did not give the governors any role in the party’s affairs, Punch Newspaper reported

He said he and other members of the NWC would meet to discuss the “charade” that happened at the “so-called convention.”

Bwala said, “The chairman had announced the suspension of the convention based on numerous and conflicting court judgments.

“He did that strategically in order not to embarrass the party and save it from further litigation.

“Those that met and said they were doing the convention did that on their own. The governors have no role to play in the party according to our constitution.

“Those who think they have money and that because of this they can run the party illegally will have to have a rethink.

“The NWC is still in office and we are meeting soon. The chairman remains in office. All other organs of the party like the Board of Trustees and the NEC will meet at the appropriate time. Sheriff remains the national chairman.”

It was, however, gathered that the party might witness a series of legal action in the days ahead.

On Friday, Justice Muhammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos ordered members of the PDP not to take any action that would void the proceedings of court on the issue of the parallel convention.

Also, Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos on Friday refused to vacate the order not to conduct election into the offices of the National Chairman, National Secretary and National Auditor at the PDP national convention.

THE UNTOLD: How Fayose Betrayed DISGRACED Sheriff, Moved Motion For His Ouster At PDP Botched Convention

Happenings at the Port Harcourt version of the troubled Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have been unfolding. 

The convention which was cancelled but report says a caretaker committee was set up. The new committee Chairman which was picked to take over the party leadership from Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, the ousted Interim National Chairman. is former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi.

A parallel convention  led by Prof. Jerry Gana is also holding at Abuja, News Punch understands

News Punch reliably hinted that the motion to sack the former Borno Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as national Chairman was moved by his close ally and Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Before the Port Harcourt Convention, Fayose was a strong supporter of Ali Modu Sheriff. Infact, reports were rife that the duo were planning for a joint Presidential ticket come 2019.

According to Premium Times, the PDP leadership which comprised of PDP governors and other eminent members of PDP agreed to name an interim committee to replace the National Working Committee, pending the election of new NWC members.

The high-powered meeting that was convened at the office of Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt said members resolved to make Mr. Markafi the chairman of the caretaker committee while Mr. Obi would function as secretary of the party.

The Source told Premium Times that, it was Gov. Fayose that moved for the dethronement of Sheriff.

“Governor Fayose said Sheriff should leave for a new caretaker chairman to take over, but Governor Wike said Sheriff should not be disgraced out of office just like that that they should let him be chairman of the caretaker. The governors rejected Mr. Wike’s suggestion,” the source said.

The source said there will be representatives of the six geopolitical zones in the caretaker committee, too.

“Sheriff was not happy with the development. In fact, he had to storm out of the venue of the meeting, angrily,” the source said.

He said the meeting was attended by most of the party’s serving and former governors, senators and honourable members as well as some members of the board of trustees.e crises the party is facing

Angry Sheriff Stage A Walkout As PDP Dethrones Him; Picks Makarfi, Ben Obi As Chairman, Sec.

The Peoples Democratic Party has fired its national chairman, Modu Sheriff, and has appointed an interim party executive led by a former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi.

Report According to Premium Times says; a former Anambra governor, Ben Obi, was also appointed interim secretary of the party.

The caretaker committee will pilot the affairs of the party for three months, our sources said.

The PDP took the decision on Saturday as part of efforts to resolve the party’s crises it facing in recent time.

Meanwhile, the party’s scheduled national convention in Port Harcourt was cancelled, as a faction of the party conducted a parallel convention in Abuja same day.

“The convention is not holding. Our leaders have been meeting since early in the morning and they finally resolved that the convention should be shelved until the court order issued is vacated, “a delegate to the convention told PREMIUM TIMES.

He also said some of the leaders of the party expressed the view that “efforts should be made to resolve all differences with the Jerry Gana group before a fresh national convention is held”.

Our source added that the leadership which comprised of PDP governors and other eminent members of PDP agreed to name an interim committee to replace the National Working Committee, pending the election of new NWC members.

“What we are hearing now is that former Governor Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ben Obi have been chosen as interim chairman and secretary,” our source said.

Another source present at the high-powered meeting that was convened at the office of Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt said members resolved to make Mr. Markafi the chairman of the caretaker committee while Mr. Obi would function as secretary of the party.

“Governor Fayose said Sheriff should leave for a new caretaker chairman to take over, but Governor Wike said Sheriff should not be disgraced out of office just like that that they should let him be chairman of the caretaker. The governors rejected Mr. Wike’s suggestion,” the source said.

The source said there will be representatives of the six geopolitical zones in the caretaker committee, too.

“Sheriff was not happy with the development. In fact, he had to storm out of the venue of the meeting, angrily,” the source said.

He said the meeting was attended by most of the party’s serving and former governors, senators and honourable members as well as some members of the board of trustees.e crises the party is facing

Credit: Sahara Reporters