PDP: Sheriff Asks INEC To Ignore Makarfi’s National Convention

The leadership tussle in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new twist as Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), asking it to ignore a letter by the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led contentious PDP Caretaker Committee notifying it of a proposed August 17, 2016 PDP National Convention.

Sheriff in a letter dated August 2, 2016 reminded the commission that the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee is illegal and has no powers under the PDP constitution to convene the party’s National Convention.

But in a swift response, the Makarfi-led PDP described the letter to INEC as a clear indication that Sheriff is out to destroy the PDP.

The national caretaker committee further called on INEC to disregard Sheriff’s letter adding that it belongs to the garbage bin as he is merely acting the script of his paymasters.

The Makarfi committee further explained that the August 17 national convention was set in motion by the May 21 national convention, after it set up the national caretaker committee which was recognised by the judgement of a federal high court in Port Harcourt on July 4.

Recall that INEC had recognised Makarfi-led leadership of the party as legitimate citing the July 4 court judgement in Port Harcourt as its reason. The commission had also recognised the committee’s candidate in Edo State, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, as PDP’s candidate in Edo.

But Sheriff in his letter told INEC that the only body that can call for and ratify activities culminating to a National Convention of PDP, is the National Executive Committee (NEC) headed by him as national chairman.