*PDP Governors’ Forum, National Working Committee, BoT, N’ Assemby Caucus now back Sheriff as Chairman
By Ibidapo Balogun
A truce seems to have emerged in the crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the appointment of former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, as the party’s chairman.
After a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the party leadership agreed to allow Sheriff to remain as chairman but will operate for three months following which a national convention will be organised.
The party’s Governors’ Forum met and threw its weight behind Sheriff, same with the National Working Committee and the National Assembly caucus of the party, but the Board of Trustees was said to have stood by its position against Sheriff, with some adjustment to allow him operate for three months.
The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, said the various organs of the party had agreed to Sheriff’s election.
He said the party’s governors and other stakeholders, however, asked the chairman and NWC to work towards organising a national convention within three months.
But the Forum of former Ministers of the party led by former Minister of Special Duties to President Goodluck Jonathan, Kabiru Turaki, said Sheriff is not ideal as PDP chairman, stating that it was still consulting over the matter.
The PDP had last week adopted the former Borno governor as its chairman. The decision to pick Sheriff was spearheaded by the party’s governors particularly Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his Ekiti State counterpart Ayo Fayose.
The decision has, however, thrown the party into turmoil.
On Monday, Sheriff assumed the mantle of leadership at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, saying he would not step down and that his assignment was to unite all aggrieved party members.
He threatened to sue those labelling him as Boko Haram sponsor.
