National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu
Sheriff has declared that he would not step down as the national leader
of the party.
Shariff made the claim in reaction to a statement credited to former
President Goodluck Jonathan asking him and the Caretaker Chairman of the
party, Ahmed Makarfi to step down from their various positions and
allow governors nominate a Chairman to lead the party.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of Sheriff’s faction,
Bernard Mikko, maintained that the issue of resignation never came up
during the meeting the former Borno State Governor had with Jonathan.
The statement reads, “The general public, PDP members and the media
are hereby informed that the issue of the National Chairman’s
resignation as the political solution has never been discussed nor was
it put up for discussion with the former President and other
stakeholders.
“The general public, PDP members nationwide and the media are hereby
informed that shortly before the Court of Appeal judgement of 17th
February, 2017, all parties and stakeholders agreed that on the receipt
of the Court of Appeal judgement, whichever way it goes; members will be
prevailed upon and urged to support the judgement and orders of the
Court of Appeal and rally round the successful party to conduct; as soon
as possible a national unity convention for the election of officers;
the modalities of which shall be worked out by all stakeholders of the
party.
“As law abiding citizen and advocate of the rule of law, the National
Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff hereby calls on all stakeholders
including but not limited to PDP governors; national and state assembly
members; Board of Trustee members to make themselves available and give
their input on how we can; as quickly as possible conduct a national
unity convention where our national officers will be elected. The
National Chairman has promised and undertaken not to contest”.