Rather than thaw, the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Thursday.
Embattled factional National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, said in Abuja at a press conference: “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 immediately inaugurated a panel to conduct another governorship primaries in Edo State.
In the primaries conducted by the Ahmed Makarfi-led group on Monday, former Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, was elected to face the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Godwin Obaseki, on September 10.
But to Sheriff, the exercise that produced Ize-Iyamu was illegal, null and void.
He immediately inaugurated a separate committee to conduct fresh primaries.
Senator Hope Uzodinma is the chairman of the committee and a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak, 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 primaries 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.
Sheriff dismissed as false, claims by the Makarfi committee that INEC monitored the Edo governorship primary election it conducted, saying the commission had debunked the claim.
With Sheriff at the event were Uzodinma, Gulak, Senator Buruji Kashamu, Mrs. Mariam Ali, former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim; former PDP vice chairman (South-South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe; a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Kasim Gbolarunmi; Senator Saidu Kumo and Mrs. Esther Audu.
Also at the event were Prof. Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju who are still laying claim to the positions of National Secretary and National Auditor respectively.
Sheriff denied scheming for the party’s presidential ticket in 2019, saying: “I never told anybody I wanted to run for presidency and I did not promise anybody the vice presidential ticket”.
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 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 wishes,” Sheriff said.
