Tight security for Sheriff at PDP headquarters

THE police have fortified the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the resumption of work there by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the national chairman.

At least five police pick-up vans and one truck were used to cordon off the Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5 Abuja edifice on Monday ostensibly to provide additional security for the building and its occupants.

Hordes of policemen were seen seated in the vehicles while other security personnel manning the main entrance denied visitors entry into the premises.

PDP office’s side of the dual-carriage Dalaba Street was still blocked with concrete and iron obstacles preventing its use by motorists despite the fact that Sheriff has started to use the premises.

At the time of Tribune Online’s visit to the office on Monday, the party boss was not on seat but his deputy, Dr Cairo Ojuogboh, was there with a few individuals who had come to see him.

He confirmed to Tribune Online that work would resume fully at the premises in the next few days.

Security personnel who were preventing visitors from entering the premises had apparently been given the same message as they politely turned back visitors, with the advice that they could return in the next few days.

Workers were still busy on Monday running a fresh coat of PDP’s green-white-red colours on the four-floor building, hoping to get it ready in time before work resume fully in a couple of days.

Recall that the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, had recently, while ruling on the case concerning the conduct of the May 21, 2016 national convention ordered the party to revert to status quo ante, thereby affirming Sheriff to as the party boss.

The National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi has already signified its intention to appeal the decision at the Supreme Court and had advised Sheriff to stay away from the national secretariat pending the outcome of the apex court’s ruling.