The protracted leadership tussle in the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which has thorn the party apart and led to the complete shut down of its national secretariat for the past two months seemed to have been resolved.
Insider reports available to TheLeaderng.com revealed that the former national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheeiff have succumbed to pressure and decided to give peace a chance by pledging his loyalty to the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee.
It was gathered that the truce was reached during a reconciliation meeting on Thursday chaired by the deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu at the Taraba State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
Others at the meeting include, Ondo State governor Olusegun Mimiko, his Taraba State counterpart, Darius Ishaku, Makarfi, Sheriff among others.
Sheriff was quoted as saying, “I pledge my unalloyed support to the PDP and loyalty to the Makarfi led leadership of the party.”
Following the successful meeting the leaders proceeded to the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre to break the cheery news to others members of the party for an expanded caucus meeting of the Party where various issues concerning affecting the party were discussed and several decisions taken.
The party has fixed August 17, 2016, to hold its National Convention still in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. It has also constituted a committee to work out a new zoning arrangements for national offices with the consideration of the National Chairman zoned to the South having approved Zoning for Presidency to the North at the last National Convention.
It was also gathered that a National Reconciliation Committee was constituted to continue on the reconciliation efforts in the Party headed by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.
PDP Expanded National Caucus
The Expanded National Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) just ended at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Center, Abuja with several leaders and other stakeholders of the Party in attendance.
The Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, H. E. Senator Ahmed Makarfi, CON, presided over the Meeting with the Secretary, Senator Ben Obi, CON and other members of the Committee present. Also in attendance is the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, CFR and other leaders of the National Assembly. It also had the Executive Governors of Ondo, Gombe, Taraba, Rivers and Ekiti states while other states were represented by their deputies. Other invited stakeholders
include: former governors, former ministers, former national officers, etc.
The Meeting deliberated on several issues affecting the Party and arrived at the following decisions:
(i) The National Convention of the Party will hold on Wednesday, the 17th of August 2016 still in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
(ii) A new zoning arrangement is to take into consideration, the decision of the last Convention which zoned the Presidency to the North and by implication, the position of National Chairman is to be zoned to the South, and the Committee is to report back within a week.
(iii) A National Reconciliation Committee was constituted headed by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu to reconcile all Party members towards a successful National Convention.
Finally, Senator Kashamu Buruji representing Ijebu Labo Constituency of Ogun State in the 8th National Assembly was also in the Meeting; and he declared his unalloyed loyalty and support to the PDP National Caretaker Committee. His declaration foretells the successful outcome of the reconciliation currently going on in the Party.
The Meeting came to an end with all Caucus members pledging to work with the National Caretaker Committee towards a successful forthcoming National Convention.
Signed:
Adm. Chinwe I. Nnorom
Head, Publicity Division
For: The Chief Spokesman
