PDP Crisis Deepens As Sheriff Writes INEC Over Edo Primary

Forum 7 years ago

PDP Crisis Deepens As Sheriff Writes INEC Over Edo Primary

Ousted Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ali Modu Sheriff said that he has urged the Independence Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard the just concluded Edo State governorship primary election which saw Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a former secretary of the government of the state emerged.

A statement co-signed by Sheriff and Wale Oladipo, former national secretary of the PDP, said a letter had been written to the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging him not to “give legitimacy to what happened in Edo”.

Sheriff faulted the process through which Ize-Iyamu emerged, adding that the party was going to conduct a proper primary in Edo.

In a separate statement, the party released a scheduled congress in Edo State to start from June 23 to June 29 with the inauguration of congress committee scheduled for Thursday.

The statement warned state chairmen and officers of the party not to deal with the Ahmed Makarfi-led committee.

It also announced the appointment of some deputy national officers as members of the national working committee in acting capacity with immediate effect.

The officers are: Okey Nnadozie, acting national organising secretary; Alonge-Niyi Dennis, acting national youth leader; Hannatu Ullam, acting national women leader; and Bashir Maidugu, acting national legal adviser.

According to the statement, the appointment of the officers is as a result of the resignation of five members of the NWC.

“This is in accordance with the provisions of sections 39(2), 42 (2), 43 (2), 44 (2) and 47 (6) of the Constitution of the party 2012 as amended,” the statement read.

While the PDP May 21 national convention that constituted the Makarfi-led caretaker committee claimed it had removed Sheriff and members of his NWC, Sheriff is insisting that he will remain in charge of the affairs of the party chairman until 2018, with the exception of being removed by a court.