(UPDATE) PDP Sacks Sheriff, Appoints Makarfi Caretaker Chairman

Ernest chinwo

The national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party holding in Port Harcourt has sacked the embattled National Chairman of the Party, Senator Ali Modu Sherriff. A caretaker chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who is a former governor of Kaduna State, has been elected as his replacement.

Sensing that he would be sacked at the convention, Sherrif , who was initially optimistic that he would be elected, had quickly called off the national convention of the party earlier in the day.

Sherrif, who made the announcement at a press briefing at Le Meridian Hotel, Port Harcourt, cited court orders restraining the party from proceeding with the convention as reason.

“If we proceed with the convention, we will be charged for contempt of court. As As a responsible party, we have to respect the court orders. We will reconvene as soon as we are able to dispense with the court cases,” he had stated.

His directive was however ignored as the convention went on as planned with the 12 PDP state governors and other leaders of the party in attendance.

One of the first decisions taken by the convention was the dissolution of the national working committee of the party by a motion moved by former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Austin Opara, and seconded by another former Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihediora.

The convention thereafter, via voice vote, set up a caretaker committee following a motion by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, which was seconded by Gombe State Governor, Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwando.

The caretaker committee, which will be in office for not more than 90 days and will conduct a proper convention for the party, also has Senator Ben Obi as secretary, while Senator Odion Ogbesia, Senator Abdul Ningi, Barrister Kabiru Usman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Alhaja Aisha Aliyu are members.

More details later