PDP Crisis: Quit in 3 months’ time, PDP group tells Ali Modu Sheriff

– The group said it will not rest until sanity is restored back to the party
– PDP Rescue Group called on the NWC to commence programme leading to the party’s congresses and the National Convention

File photo of Ali Modu Sheriff, the newly-appointed chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party

A group within Nigeria’s opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the new national chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff to resign from his position on March 28, 2016 when his tenure and other National Working Committee (NWC) members expires.
The group, PDP Rescue Group, therefore called on the NWC to commence programme leading to the party’s congresses and the National Convention.

In a statement signed by its chairman Amb. Wilberforce Juta, the group said it will not rest until sanity is restored back to the party.

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“Although a joint meeting of representatives of the Board of Trustees, the National Working Committee, the National Assembly Caucus and the PDP Governors’ Forum had offered a compromise to the current crisis, we affirm that no authority has the power under the PDP Constitution to extend the tenure of any official or organ of the party.

“The tenure of the current National Executive Committee, NWC, will expire on 28th March 2016. We expect all leaders and organ to abide by that. “Congresses and the National Convention to elect new party leaders at all levels can be conducted in the month of March, 2016.

“ Friday 26th February, 2016 marks the third day in line with the seven days ultimatum handed down by the National Caucus to the NWC to produce a programme leading to the party Congresses and the National Convention.”

Recall that the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP had said that the unity, cohesion and future of the party necessitated its reverse position on its newly elected chairman, Ali-Modu Sherrif.

In the communique signed by a former deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, after its meeting on Thursday, February 25, the board emphasized that Sheriff and members of the national working committee must vacate their positions to give way to a new leadership within three months.

The board also reaffirmed its full confidence in its acting chairman, Walid Jibrin, adding that the party would hold congresses and conventions to elect new leaders within the period of three months.