Ekiti PDP: Sheriff loyalists vow to remain in PDP, deny defecting to MPN

LOYALISTS of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff in Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have said they will not leave the party following the recent Supreme Court judgement that deposed Sheriff.

The PDP members had said in a statement on Sunday that they had not defected to Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN), and denied the reports in the state that they had joined the new party.

The PDP members, who spoke under the auspices of PDP Elders Forum, also denied that they were all moving to the new party following the defection of some PDP members.

Senator Clement Awoyelu, who spoke on behalf of the group, said “the decision of a few members to pitch their tent with the new party is without adequate consultation with the leaders of the PDP.”

He said they had met and had decided that all PDP members in the state should remain in the party as, according to him, the decision of “the Supreme Court had not affected the state chapter of the party in any manner to necessitate a defection to any other party.”

They said they resolved at the meeting held at the home of Senator Awoyelu, in Ado Ekiti, to wait on the Court of Appeal, Ado-Ekiti Division to resolve a matter they are currently involved in with the group led by Gboyega Oguntuwase against Williams Ajayi, over who is the authentic chairman of the party in the state.

A former Nigerian envoy to Canada, Dare Bejide, who was also at the meeting said: “We urge our members to remain in the party irrespective of whatever cicumstance. It is not true that some of our members have defected to Mega Party of Nigeria.”

Also at the meeting was a former secretary of the party, Mr Tope Aluko, who said “we are united and we will deliver Ekiti for PDP again in 2018.”

Others said to have attended the meeting included former House of Representatives member, Mrs Titilayo Akindahunsi;  Chairman of the Sheriff faction, Chief William Ajayi among others.