The recent directive credited to the leadership of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led PDP, to its members regarding the forthcoming local government polls in some states of the federation, has widened the gulf between the disputing factions of the party. EMEKA NZE reports
“There was no such directive from the NCC. Our statement was very clear and unambiguous which was to the effect that we are in court and have absolute faith and confidence in the judiciary to dispense justice without fear or favour.
“Also that we are aware that PDP is being disenfranchised in some elections and that different states have adopted different approaches to the issue without prejudice to the substantive matter before the court.
The above was the disclaimer by the Ahmed Markafi’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of reports in the media earlier in the week saying that it had directed
The Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC), PDP has debunked reports that it asked members of the party to defect to any political party
In a statement issued two days ago by its spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, the party said what it did was to ask its state chapters to adopt different approaches to the issue without prejudice to the substantive matter before the court.
The spokesman described as misleading a particular newspaper report whose headline gave the impression that the NCC had instructed party members to join other parties of their choice.
“This statement became necessary because of the confusion caused by the newspaper headline and the wild rumours and misrepresentation circulating in the media, especially the social media that we directed PDP members in Lagos State to vote for APDA in the forthcoming local government elections.
“There was no such directive from the NCC. Our statement was very clear and unambiguous which was to the effect that we are in court and have absolute faith and confidence in the judiciary to dispense justice without fear or favour.
“Also that we are aware that PDP is being disenfranchised in some elections and that different states have adopted different approaches to the issue without prejudice to the substantive matter before the court.
“We state categorically that the NCC has never asked anyone to defect to another party. PDP is our party. Our members are enjoined to continue to demonstrate total commitment and loyalty to the party,” said Adeyeye.
But, the national leadership of the PDP led by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has described the position of the Makarfi-led caretaker committee as the highest level hypocrisy and anti-party.
Bernard Mikko, spokesman of the Sheriff leadership in a statement issued Wednesday, urged PDP members to ignore such advise and continue to be loyal to the party.
“The attention of the National Chairman of the PDP, Sheriff, and the National Working Committee (NWC) has been drawn to a press release by one Adeyeye on behalf of Makarfi and the court-declared illegal caretaker committee that members desirous of contesting elections should look for alternative platforms.
“We call on all loyal members to ignore this call and see them for what they are-destroyers of our much cherished party. We equally call on all members who are desirous of contesting elections to use our party, the PDP, to be rest assured of a level playing field guaranteed by internal party democracy.
“It is now clear that having failed to convince members to follow them to their proposed new party, Makarfi and his co-travellers have resorted to using everything available to destroy our party.
“This new antic will also fail and we assure all our aspirants that the end to impunity and imposition of candidates is in sight,” he said.
Recall that the Makarfi’-led had earlier in a statement urged its members “to take any decision they consider appropriate regarding the candidate to vote for in the pending local government, National and State Assembly by-elections in many states of the federation.”
Blueprint reported that “This is as local government elections in Lagos and other states are approaching”.
According to a statement yesterday (Tuesday) by its spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the move is “to avoid a repeat of the Edo and Ondo Gubernatorial Elections experience where Senator Ali modu Sheriff and his co travelers tried to scuttle the chances of PDP by fielding APC lackeys and surrogates as alternative candidates in order to disturb, distract and dissipate the energy and concentration of our genuine candidates in those elections.”
Adeyeye said, “It is indisputable that this was the main reason for our defeat particularly in the Ondo Governorship Election. That was why we deliberately decided not to run parallel congresses in Anambra
State in order not to subject our Party members in that State to the agony of a disputed platform.”
The statement noted that while the party awaits the verdict of the Supreme Court, “it will not choose a platform for any state where true PDP candidates are denied the opportunity to stand for the elections.”
It accused Senator Sheriff and his cohorts of “creating factional chapters in different states of the federation in order to compromise the chances in the Local Government Elections.”
The statement emphasized that “The National Caretaker Committee is working with all the Organs of the Party, the BoT, the National Caucus, NEC, PDP Governors Forum, PDP State Chairmen Forum, PDP Ministers Forum, the Youths and Women Groups and other relevant bodies to pursue the Appeal filed at the Supreme Court to its logical conclusion.
It further stated that the NCC has a good case a solid ground of Appeal.
“We believe ultimately that justice will be served on the leadership issues in our Party and we are also confident that the Judiciary will continue to remain independent, unbiased and neutral.
“We continue to pray for a positive outcome in the Judgment of the Supreme Court so that the agony and pain of recent times may be finally put behind us.”
This statement became necessary because of the confusion caused by the newspaper headline and the wild rumours and misrepresentation circulating in the media, especially the social media
