PDP Yields To Sheriff, Approves Abuja For Convention

A dramatic twist occurred in the leadership tussle in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party yesterday, conceded to one of the demands of embattled former national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff: the holding of the party’s next national convention in Abuja.

The BoT, which rose from a four-hour meeting in Abuja, asked the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee to work towards holding the next convention in Abuja, the nation’s seat of power.

The BoT, composed of those regarded as elders of the party, also called for the constitution of a new convention planning committee so as “to ensure a credible, transparent, free and fair convention.”

In the build-up to the botched August 17 national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the BoT’s reconciliation committee, led by Prof Jerry Gana, had met with Sheriff over the leadership crisis rocking the party.

The former national chairman had, at the meeting, demanded that the national convention be held in Abuja and for Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike to be removed as head of the convention planning committee. It now appears that, concerning the venue of the convention, his wishes will prevail.

Senator Jibrin, who read the seven-paragraph communiqué said: “The next convention should be held in Abuja.

“To ensure a credible, transparent, free and fair convention, a new Convention Planning Committee should be constituted by the National Caretaker Committee and approved by NEC.”

Walid added that the BoT should facilitate the raising of adequate funds for the party, even as he urged the board reconciliation committee to continue with reconciliation efforts.

The body said it had resolved “to pass a vote of solid confidence in the National Caretaker Committee, and hereby urges the committee to continue the good work of properly planning for the next national convention.”

BoT members present at the meeting were Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, Chief Olabode George, Professor Tunde Adeniran, and Hajiya Inna Ciroma, among others.