PDP Crisis: Reps caucus divide over confirmation of Sheriff as National Chairman

Cracks appear within the caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives yesterday over the confirmation of Ali Modu Sherrif as the authentic Chairman by the Court of Appeal.

While the leader of the caucus, Minority Leader Leo Ogor affirmed that the entire caucus was fully behind Ahmed Makarfi, a number of members of the caucus under the aegis of Concerned PDP House members endorsed Sheriff as the National Chairman of the party.

According to a statement made available to news men in Abuja after an emergency meeting of the Pro-Sheriff group by the duo Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma (PDP, Edo) and Oni Olamide (PDP, Ekiti), the concerned members of the caucus endorsed Sheriff as the authentic National Chairman of the party and expressed their total support for him.

The group who promised to address the Press today on the matter commended the re conciliatory efforts of the Bayelsa State governor, Hon Seriake Dickson towards the peaceful resolution of the crisis in the party.

In addition, the group also endorsed governor Dickson’s report and recommendations that was submitted to Senator Sheriff few days ago, and appealed Party members nationwide to strive to sustain the peace initiatives.

However in swift reaction to the position of the concerned members, the Minority Leader, Hon Leo Igor said the caucus had never been in support of Sheriff and declared that the Supreme Court must be allowed to make its pronouncement on the issue.

Hon Ogor pointed out that the caucus had already scheduled a meeting with PDP governors over the issue and the forthcoming convention of the part.

According to him, “the caucus has always been behind Markrfi, that support has not changed. In a caucus of about 139 members, one or two dissenting voices cannot be ruled out but we are never behind Sheriff.

“It is important to understand that there is a matter before the court. We want to see the truth, we believe in the judiciary and the interpretation of the situation by the Supreme Court.

“We don’t mind political solution but since injustice to one is injustice to all, the Supreme Court must rule on it and let the truth be known. We will try political solution but the truth must be known”.