Ondo PDP rules out reconciliation with Sheriff

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State on Thursday ruled out reconciliation with the factional chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff.

Consequently, member of the party in the state passed vote of confidence on the Senator Ahmed Makarfi led faction

The decision of the party was contained in a communique issued at the end of a Stakeholders meeting held in Akure, Ondo state, maintained that there cannot be meeting point with Sheriff as he has shown himself as not ready for any reconciliation with the mainstream of the party.

The stakeholders also condemned Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State decision to submit the party’s convention’s report to Sheriff saying the action should be condemned as the action has shown that the governor was a mole in the ranks of PDP’s governors’ forum.

They insisted that if the party goes to the congress with Sheriff and the outcome was not palatable to him, he would invoke the judgment of the Court of Appeal and scuttle the outcome of the convention.

In the communiqué read by the Southwest Vice Chairman, Dr Eddy Olafeso, and signed by the party chairman and secretary, Chief Clement Faboyede and Oyedele Ibini, the party agreed to set up an Elders Caucus to see to the smooth running of the activities of the party and resolve all the lingering crisis within the party.

The communiqué read in part “We declare our unalloyed and total support for the National Caretaker Committee of the Party under the leadership of Senator Markafi as the only body empowered by the Port Harcourt Convention of the Party to continue to steer the affairs of the Party. We support their decision to appeal the judgment of the Port Harcourt division of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court.

“We equally recall the prompt role the Supreme Court played in the matter of determining who the flag bearer of our Party is in the last election and therefore do urge it to please adjudicate promptly again on this matter in the interest of justice.

“We also take due notice of the continuing perfidious and meddlesome activities of Sherif and his band of fifth columnists. We condemn them for being willing tools in the hand of the APC, we however wish to assure them that history and posterity will be harsh on them for this infamy and betrayal.”

The party also expressed its confidence in the Zonal Executive of the Party led Olafeso and pledged their support for its actions as it continues to discharge its responsibilities to the Party at the Zonal level.

The communiqué stated further “it is hereby resolved that an Elders Council to provide clear directions and guidance for the Party at all times.

“That we condemn emphatically the desperate politics that the APC has continue to prosecute in the nation, it’s penchant for undermining institutions, compromising elections and also the sponsorship of crisis in our Party by clandestinely providing logistic support to the Sherriff group.”

In attendance are the leaders of the party including the Southwest Vice Chairman, Dr Eddy Olafeso, governorship candidate of the party in the last governorship election in the state, Mr Eyitayo Jegede SAN, Prof Olu Agbi, Chief Segun Adegoke, Mr Saka Lawal and Chief Olabode George.