PDP Bot Sends Sheriff, Makarfi Out Of meeting

The former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ali Modu Sheriff and the chairman of the Caretaker committee of the Party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi were excused out of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the party which is on going in Abuja.


Senator Sheriff walked into the Transcorp Hilton venue of the meeting at about 11:10 am and was followed five minutes later by Senator Makarfi. The duo sat at the high table alongside the chairman of the Board, Senator Jibril Wali and the secretary, Chief Ojo Maduekwe. Few minutes later, the chairman of the board announced that the board had a very important decision to take before the commencement of the meeting.

At this point, he asked journalists covering the opening ceremony to leave the hall and less than five minutes later, Senators Sheriff and Makarfi walked out of the meeting hall. A member of the board who does not want to be named told vanguard that the two were asked to leave the hall because it would be inappropriate for them to be in attendance at a meeting that was going to discuss their matter.

Moreso yesterday eight out of 11 members of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party dumped Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as they pledged their loyalty and support to the Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee of the party.

In a resolution passed at their meeting in Abuja, the members of the Committee said as products of the national convention of the party, “we accept without equivocations all decisions and resolutions of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held at Portharcourt on the 21st of May, 2016”. The members said the resolutions at the PDP convention in Portharcourt “Merely reechoes our undeniable as members of the National Working Committee to give up our tenures for congresses and convention to be held in May 2016”.

While pledging their support for and cooperation with the Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee, the former NWC members noted that the constitution of a caretaker committee falls within the powers of the national convention as enshrined in section 33(5) (e) of the party constitution.

While enjoining the party’s teeming supporters and other critical stakeholders to support the Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee, the members call on other party leaders to shun personal interest and work towards moving the party forward. It added that in the absence of the national chairman of the party at the convention, it was appropriate for the Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus to preside over the convention in accordance with sections 33 and 35 of the party’s constitution.

Those who signed the resolution were Uche Secondus, Deputy National Chairman, Solomon Onwe, Deputy National Secretary, Victor Kwon, National Legal Adviser, Dr Kema Chikwe, Woman Leader, Abdullahi Maibasira, Uouth Leader, BolajI Anani, National Financial Secretary, Buharu Bala, National Treasurer and Olisah Metuh, National Publicity Secretary. The national Secretary and National Auditor, Professor Adewale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanj respectively were not signatory to the resolution as both of them are in court to challenge elections into their offices.