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.

At Last, Sheriff Gains Access To PDP Secretariat, Issues Strong Warnings To Factional Leaders, See Photos

The embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sen Ali Modu Sheriff, who was denied entry by Security operatives into PDP National Headquarters at Wadata Plaza, Abuja earlier today, has successfully gained entrance, taken over as the National Chairman of the Party and has begun his official business.

Sheriff while addressing the press on Monday after gaining access to the secretariat said his office would not be vacant until 2019. He also revealed how he was begged to accept the Chairmanship role of the party.

The former Senator explained that he was never interested in becoming the national leader of the party.

According to Sheriff, the National Working Committee, NWC, and the party’s caucus begged him to lead the party when they realised what he could do.

Sheriff said, “I was begged by the NWC, the party Caucus, the governors all of them to become the chairman of the party when they realised what I can do. I never wanted to be the chairman of the party. If Makarfi wants to lead, he should wait for the National Convention and if selected by the party, then he can take over.

“At a point, there was a contention and the matter was put to vote, I emerged victorious after claiming the highest vote.”

Explaining why he suspended the National Convention of the party in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the embattled Chairman said he got court orders restraining the party from going ahead with the convention, adding that the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, also wrote him a letter saying they will not conduct elections into three key offices of the party, which include; the office of the National Chairman, National Auditor and National Secretary.

“We put off the Port Harcourt convention on hold because the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos said the office of the National Chairman of PDP was not vacant until 2019, also an Abuja High Court gave a ruling that the office of the National Chairman will not be vacant till 2019.”

“Even the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, wrote me a letter that they will not conduct any election into the office of the National Chairman, National Auditor and National Secretary of the party.”

He maintained that the Party’s constitution stipulates that the National Chairman should head the National Convention of the party.

Sheriff further insisted that he remains the authentic Chairman of the party, stressing that his office is not vacant till 2019.

“I remain the authentic Chairman of the party till 2019 unless the court of law says otherwise,” Sheriff said.

On being refused access into the party’s secretariat by law enforcement officers, Sheriff said, “When the police stopped me from entering my office, I went to the IGP to complain and he told me that he was not trying to stop but to protect me. I insisted that nobody will harm me and he ordered his boys to allow me access into the secretariat.”

The former Senator, however, averred that his leadership was opened to dialogue with all aggrieved factions and will do all it can to carry everybody along.