Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, has described the public conduct of Ekiti State
Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose as shameful. Sheriff was responding to statements by
Fayose to the effect that he was removed as chairman because he was scheming
for the 2019 presidential ticket of the PDP and was also baiting some party
chieftains with the vice presidential ticket.
But at a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, Sheriff said, “I
am ashamed at the way and manner Fayose is conducting himself in the country. I
was once a governor so I know that the position of governor is a very serious
one that demands responsible behaviour”.
To buttress his claim to the chairmanship of the party,
Sheriff said the National Working Committee (NWC) under him is in charge of the
bank accounts of the PDP, to the exclusion of the Makarfi led caretaker
committee.
“Myself and the Treasurer who is also a member of the NWC are
signatories to the bank accounts of the PDP. Makarfi may also open
another
account in the name of his caretaker committee if he wished”, Sheriff
said. The former Borno state Governor said he had forgiven Makarfi
and his committee members for their failed attempt to take over the
party and
invited them to rejoin the PDP under his leadership.
Said he, “There is only one PDP, which is the one under my
leadership. Anyone who thinks that the Makarfi contraption can work is
deceiving himself. I am the only chairman of the PDP recognised by the courts,
the constitution and the Electoral Act.
“I became chairman because the PDP chose me to lead the
party. So I won’t sit by and watch some people mess up the party. I am here to
correct what had gone wrong with state congresses conducted by the party”.
Sheriff then went ahead to inaugurate a separate committee
to conduct fresh primaries to pick a candidate for the party in the upcoming
Edo state governorship election. He named a serving senator, Hope Uzodinma as
chairman of the committee and a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak as
secretary.
According to him, three aspirants had already obtained
nomination forms for a fee of N10 million each, saying that the money had been
deposited in the party’s bank account. Sheriff announced that he would soon
convene the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to ratify the
candidature of the winner of the Edo primary election to be conducted by the
Uzodinma committee.
“After that, we will forward the name of our governorship
candidate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the
July 10 deadline set by the commission for the submission of candidates”, he
said.
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