Abuja—The Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, formally took over the national secretariat of the party with representatives of all the party’s major organs in attendance.
The take-over, which should have signalled the formal return of peace to the party, however, proved not to be the case as the former national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff kicked against the handover, saying that he would sustain his judicial actions against the Makarfi’s caretaker committee.
Sheriff’s camp said it would initiate contempt proceedings against the committee before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. The party’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo and Deputy National Legal Adviser, Bashir Maidugu, said that the caretaker committee remained illegal and lacked powers to run the party’s affairs. Sheriff, Oladipo and National Auditor, Alhaji Fatai Adeyanju had obtained an order restraining PDP from conducting any election into the offices of the national chairman, national secretary and national auditor, which they occupied, pending the hearing and determination of their substantive suit before Justice Ibrahim Buba.
But, while the order was subsisting and the suit pending, the caretaker committee was appointed. Yesterday’s handover at the national secretariat was witnessed by all the governors elected on the platform of the party as well as PDP leaders in the National Assembly.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, said with the handover, the party was set to take over power in 2019 even as he called for prayers for the convalescing President Muhammadu Buhari.
Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Dr. Segun Mimiko on his part also called for caution from the nation’s leaders as he warned against what he called centrifugal forces aiming to tear the country apart.
Former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus formally handed over the party to the Makarfi led caretaker committee and enjoined the new leadership to take the party to the grassroots in order to win back their confidence for the party to bounce back in 2019.
“This party is strong and capable of resolving its problems. This party is not divided. This party will move forward. This party is ready to capture power in 2019. ‘’On behalf of the former National Working Committee, we are here to formally hand over to the national caretaker committee, who will midwife the national convention,” he said.
In his remarks, Senator Markafi promised that his committee would operate within the mandate given to it. While commending leaders of the party and other supporters for their sacrifices in ensuring that the party remains strong, Senator Makarfi called on other members still aggrieved by the recent developments in the party to embrace dialogue and come back to the fold of the party.
(Vanguard)
