The return of Sen Ali Modu Sheriff as national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sparked anxiety within the ranks of the Sen Ahmed Makarfi-led group of the party.This comes just as Sheriff, yesterday, declared that he will resume at the national Secretariat of the party, popularly called Wadata Plaza in Zone 5, Abuja, tomorrow.Sheriff, who stated this in his first reaction to the judgement of the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt, which sacked the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, also promised to unite all aggrieved members of the party.The former Borno State governor, also disclosed that the he will hold a national convention of the party as soon as possible.Our correspondent report that Sheriff, had last year declared that he would preside over a national convention in the first quarter of the this year.The police sealed PDPs national secretariat since June last year, to stem an escalation of the leadership crisis in the party.Meanwhile, it was learnt that the courts judgment that recognized Sheriff as chairman of the PDP, has renewed the debate within the Makarfi camp over whether to jettison the party or not.Sources within the opposition party revealed that some stakeholders are weary that they might not get favorable judgment even at the Supreme Court hence, a subtle move to ensure mass movement from PDP into another has commenced with the advocates insisting such was the best option available.A party chieftain who pledged anonymity, said With the way things are going, not many of us in the party believe we can get victory even at the Supreme Court as we plan to appeal.For those of us who have been open to leaving the PDP for a new platform because of the skewed way the judgment is going, these are some of the challenges we foresee.We agree that PDP remains a strong brand but with the way the case is going we cant be so confident that we will have the kind of verdict we want.As it stands most of us cannot work with Sheriff. There is a serious crisis of trust.However a Board of Trustee (BoT) member of the party, who asked not to be named, maintained that while they are still reeling from the outcome of the judgement, they will fight the case to the end.The BoT member stated that we will not leave the party for any reason adding that the option of reconciliation will prevail at the end. He stated that the appellate court judgment recognizing Sheriff was not the end of the party.It will be recalled that the Prof Jerry Gana- led Strategy Review and Inter-party Committee had ruled out a merger that will change the name of PDP, a recommendation which was welcomed by other organs of the party during unveiling of the report two weeks ago.But while addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, Sheriff promised to organize a national convention of the party within the shortest possible time, just as he declared that he would relocate to the National Secretariat of the party tomorrow.As soon as I get the judgment next week, we will move into the secretariat. We will get the enrolment order by Monday he enthused.He further disclosed that is already in talks with some members of the PDP Governors Forum, National Assembly Caucus as well as Board of Trustees (BoT) over the formulation of a roadmap to address the damage caused by leadership crisis ahead of 2019 elections.Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State, named the governor of Bayelsa State Seriake Dickson who doubles as Chairman, PDP Reconciliation Committee and his deputy Ibrahim Mantu among party leaders he has spoken to.He however denied reports that he would embark on a vendetta mission against chairman, PDP Governors Forum and Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and his counterpart in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who were his hitherto staunch supporters turned fiercest opponents in the party.He described as untrue claims that he would make them irrelevant in the party even as he shrugged off claims by Fayose that party leaders no longer want him (Sheriff) as national chairman.Sheriff said In my statement I said Ive spoken to many governors. If one governor comes up and shares his opinion Ive no issue to join with anybody. But I know Im talking to governors and I know they are obedient.He further dispelled insinuations by the Makarfi-led camp that he was being sponsored by the APC to destabilize the PDP.I dont believe on all the insinuations that are coming from different quarters. All those that are saying that APC is responsible, my hands are clean. They have something to hide. Thats why they are making all these statements. And look at the antecedents of those that are making those statements.Im ready to make any sacrifice on behalf of PDP to make sure that we become one. We want impunity to stop.While stressing that his tenure as PDP chairman is immaterial, he said the ruling party is already campaigning for the opposition party.He was flanked at the briefing by Senator Hope Uzodinma, media aide to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Umar Sani, business mogul Chris Uba, former lawmaker, Senator Saidu Kumo among others.LEADERSHIP Sunday reports that obviously disturbed by the Appeal court Judgment, Makarfi has summoned the meeting of party stakeholder to deliberate on the next course of action by his group tomorrow in Abuja.According to the notice of the meeting, those invited to the meeting are members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), National Assembly members, former governors of PDP, and former ministers under the platform of the PDP, former National Assembly members and party elders.The notice signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said all invited to the meeting to attend unfailingly as crucial party matters will be discussed.
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