PDP Reps divided over crisis
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives were yesterday divided over the two factional leaders of the party, Senators Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi.
Addressing a press conference at the National Assembly complex, Abuja, Reps Johnson Agbonayinma (PDP, Edo) and Oni Olamide (PDP, Ekiti) said they endorsed Sheriff based on the recent court ruling that he is the chairman of the party.
They also commended Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson and members of his national reconciliation committee for turning in their report on Tuesday, aimed at resolving the crisis in the party.
“We must not fail to appreciate the move by national chairman, Sen Ali Modu Sheriff, for his courage and magnanimity in bringing all party members together as one.
“We, concerned members of our great party in the House of Representatives, hereby endorse the report and recommendations of His Excellency, Seriake Dickson, presented to the national chairman of our great party at the PDP secretariat, Wadata House,” they said.
However, Minority Leader, Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) told journalists that they remained loyal to the Makarfi faction of the party and that there is no division whatsoever in the PDP.
He said the two members spoke for themselves and not the entire PDP members of the House.
“The caucus speaks with one voice. I believe that as a caucus, we must work as a team. This caucus, in line with our resolution this morning, has decided that we are meeting with all the PDP governors, in conjunction with the Senate. I’m sure that those two individuals are not even abreast with what is happening in the National Assembly as far at the PDP caucus is concerned.
“The PDP Caucus, no matter the circumstance, is solidly behind our highly respected caretaker committee chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi. That has been the position of the caucus and it has not changed. So in every situation, you will always have one or two lone voices, and these people are probably not more than two,” he said.
The Dickson report proposed that the party’s convention panel should have seven state governors, seven senators including the deputy Senate President, 12 members of the House of Reps, six members of party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and six national vice chairmen from the six geopolitical zones, among other recommendations.