The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, has signified his willingness to quit his position after convening the party’s national convention where a new set of leaders would emerge.
Sheriff made the declaration in Abuja on Wednesday while receiving the South West zonal leaders of the party who paid him a solidarity visit.
He, however, did not state a possible date for the convention.
This came just as one of the prominent backers of the Ahmed Makarfi -led Caretaker Committee, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, canvased a political solution to the party’s leadership crisis.
Addressing the South West delegation, Sheriff said, “I am not here to remain as national chairman. I will be leaving as soon as we hold our national convention to elect a new set of leaders for the PDP.
“I will make sure that we do a credible convention and that we elect leaders that are accepted by the grassroots, that is our mission. I will do that by the grace of God.”
He pleaded with the Makarfi led caretaker committee, the party’s governors and other stakeholders to allow peace to reign in the PDP, asking them to wait for the convention to enable them change the present leadership.
“If you like and you want to change something, wait for the convention and vote for the person you like. Nigerians and the world will see that you are validly elected by the PDP,” he said.
The PDP chairman urged the party’s governors not to divide the party with their actions and utterances, saying they are very important stakeholders in the party.
“The governors are very important, they are leaders of this party by their own right. They don’t have to divide the party,” he stated.
Sheriff specifically begged Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State to respect the party, warning that prosperity would judge the governor by his utterances.
(The Nation)
