PDP Crisis: Ali -modu Sheriff Walks Out Of Stakeholder's Meeting

The attempt to end the leadership crisis between Ali-modu Sherrif and Ahmed Makarfi in the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), has hit the rock again as the Party chairman Ali- modu Sheriff walked out of the meeting.


Former President Goodluck Jonathan  set up a 40-man committee made of some PDP governors and other members of the party and summoned a meeting at the Shehu Yar Adua Center, Abuja to find a lasting solution to the deepening crisis.

The meeting was however, disrupted when a closed door meeting was held excluding Amodu Sherriff. Some of his loyalist stormed out of the meeting saying that not allowing Amodu to address the meeting as chairman was unacceptable.

Explaining why he had to walk out of the Meeting, Sheriff said "We are here for PDP stakeholders meeting and the PDP has only one national chairman, which is Ali Modu-Sheriff.
There is no PDP meeting that will take place under whatever arrangement that I will not open the session as national chairman. Today, I'm the most senior member of the party.

"I think Governor Dickson made a proposal for reconciliation and we have accepted. Some people want to deviate from this programme, to bring an agenda which was not part of it. And as national chairman of the party, what I have told you people in my office when Dickson brought the report is the only thing that we have agreed at this moment. And I will not be part for anybody using me to do another programme. I'm not going to be part of it."

When asked if walking out of the meeting was not a show of disrespect to the former president, Ali-Modu replied," Well I respect him. He was a former President but as at today I am the most senior member of the party. Therefore I respect him, the respect must be reciprocated.
You can't call me for a meeting of PDP  and say I cannot address the meeting as national Chairman of the party."
Ali modu reiterated "As the national Chairman, we move on. We have programme initiated by Dickson and we are continuing with that. Anything outside that, I 'm not a party of it."

Former President Jonathan speaking to journalist after the closed door session said Ali -Modu's action was a minor setback which will be resolved after the committee submits it report in two weeks time.

In attendance were Governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Nyesom Wike( Rivers), Darius Ishaku(Taraba); deputy governors of Gombe and Ebonyi States.

Others at the meeting include members of the Party's National Working  Committee; Olisa Metuh, Uche Secondus, Abubakar Mustapha, Abdullahi Maibasira and other party members.