PDP NASS caucus divided over Sherrif

With only four days to the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its National Assembly caucus appears divided over National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu-Sherrif.

Daily Sun gathered that lawmakers argued over the caucus’ position with regards to who leads the party.

A source at the closed door meeting held yesterday told Daily Sun that there was no consensus on Modu-Sherrif. The source, however, disclosed  that federal lawmakers were more concerned about the success of the party’s national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Leader of the National Assembly caucus and Senate Minority Leader, Goodwill Akpabio told newsmen after the meeting that the caucus has inaugurated a 12-man committee to reconcile aggrieved parties.

Some members of the committee are Sunday Karimi, Tajudeen Yusuf, Wole Oke and from the Senate, Abiodun Olujimi and Enyinnaya Abaribe.

Akpabio also dismissed reports that the caucus meeting had no consensus on who to lead the party. He insisted the meeting was peaceful and resolutions acceptable to lawmakers.

“We had a peaceful meeting here. We took a lot of key decisions and one of the things we decided on was that we cannot go into a national convention that is rancorous.

“And so, we have set up a 12-man committee to meet with the various factions and interest groups in our party within the next 48 hours to iron out all the grey areas.”

He further disclosed that the National Assembly caucus had commenced consultations yesterday, starting with the party’s governors.

“We are meeting with our governors. We will meet with the Board of Trustees and other stakeholders, under the auspices of Concerned PDP Stakeholders.

“I believe strongly that, in the next 48 hours, the entire PDP family will be united and by Thursday/Friday, we will head to Port Harcourt with songs of joy, with bands and you will be impressed that, indeed, the party is back on track.”

Presenting a united front, House Minority Leader, Leo Ogor told National Assembly Correspondents that they agreed on key issues.

“What we have done here, as the entire caucus of the National Assembly, is making preparations towards the convention. You can clearly see that the PDP will have a convention that everybody in the country will be proud of. We deliberated extensively on issues and I believe that at the end of the convention, people will congratulate us.”

…Court case threatens party convention

From Taiwo Amodu, Abuja

There are fears that the  convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), billed for Port Harcourt, Rivers State on May 21 may not hold after all.

Some chieftains of the party have gone to court to stop the event.

A court injunction, has allegedly been issued by Justice Hussein Buba of a Federal  High Court in Lagos, asking the party not to conduct elections into office of national chairman, national auditor and secretary.

The court  also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring the conduct of any election into the offices.

Daily Sun gathered on yesterday  that outgoing National Secretary, Prof.  Olawale Oladipo and National Auditor, Alhaji Fatai Adewale Adeyanju were listed as plaintiffs.

In the case with suit number  FHC/L/CS/61 3/2016, dated 6th of May, 2016, INEC and the PDP were listed as the first and second defendants.

The plaintiffs are asking  for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the second defendant from conducting any election into the offices of the National Chairman, National Secretary and National Auditor respectively pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

They are also  praying for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the first Defendant/Respondent from monitoring and or recognizing the conduct of any election by the seond defendant/respondent into the offices of the National Chairman, National Secretary and National Auditor occupied by the first, second and third Plaintiffs, respectively pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

politics 8:16:00 AM