Appeal court verdict: PDP leaders disagree on way forward ‘Party will bounce back’ •A/Ibom PDP rejects Sheriff

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful across the country on Saturday bemoaned the damage its leadership crisis has done to the structure of the party, but sharply disagreed on the way forward.

In Lagos State, the factional chairman of the state chapter of the party, Mr Segun Adewale, lauded the Court of Appeal judgment that recognised Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as National chairman.

He said the PDP was poised to renew its efforts at reconciliation.

Adewale said the way forward was to seek reconciliation of the warring members, urging the party leaders not fail to do the right thing.

“It is a shame that we have to rely on the court to help us solve our problem. But,  we should all come together now. It is a win for everybody; let us recognise this. What is illegal, you cannot make legal. I told many that the other faction is the one that has refused to be reconciled to us. They want to trade away, rebrand the PDP name and bring in other parties, but unfortunately, the court gave us victory,” he said.

His counterpart of the Makarfi camp in Oyo State, Muraina Ajibola, however, said the judgment was not fair enough, as the party  envisaged the situation.

The former House of Representatives member said it would be difficult for any individual to talk about the way forward for now as the leaders would be holding series of meetings in the coming weeks to determine the next line of action.

In Kano, a PDP stalwart,   Alhaji Muhammed Musa described Sherif as a lone ranger in the party.

“He does not have followers and cannot lead the party because nobody is with him.”

Speaking in the same vein, Alhaji Aliyu Suaibu said whatever was happening to the PDP would make the party more formidable. “It is clear tbat the APC is afraid of PDP because they know the PDP poses a serious threat to it,’’ he stated.

This assertion was corroborated by Hajia Bintu Ibrahim who alleged the APC resorted to lies after realising that the masses had become tired of their propaganda.

In Akwa Ibom, the publicity secretary of the party in the state, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong, also condemned the court judgement, alleging that it was stage-managed.But the state chairman of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo, has sued for calm, urged stakeholders and supporters to remain resolute.

Chief Ray Nnaji, a former national auditor of the PDP said: “I know Markafi will not agree with the Court judgment. But I have a different view on the matter. I have a pending suit against the two of them. Both Makarfi and Sherif have no constitutional rights to lead PDP. Markafi’s Caretaker Committee is illegal because it is not known in our party’s constitution, while Sherif’s tenure has since ended.