PDP Power Tussle: Makarfi, Sheriff Settles For A 24-man Negotiating Committee

The factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, and the Chairman of its National Caretaker Committee,  Senator Ahmed Makarfi, have settled for the constitution of a 24-man committee to mediate and spare-head negotiations between the two warring factions.

Reports has it that this all important committee, which will consist of 12 members each from the two factions, is expected to be unvieled this week, as members would be named.

Source said the two leaders of the committee had agreed that the names should be submitted to each faction for scrutiny before making them public with each faction been mandated to list terms of reference to be covered by the committee.

An avowed member of one of the warring camps, on Sundayconfirmed this development  stating that the names of the nominees should get to each of the factions either by Tuesday or Wednesday.

In his words: “As I speak with you, I’m working on the terms of reference for the committee. We have agreed that each of us (factions) should nominate 12 persons that would be in the reconciliation committee.

“The names should be made known this week. However, we are giving each group the opportunity of knowing the nominees before we release the list to the public.”

In the week that was, there were indications that the said reconciliation between the two factions was about to scatter when a prominent member of the Sheriff faction accused Makarfi of being desirous for peace because his faction was losing out in the fight for the control of the soul of the PDP.

In a swift reply,  Mallam Inuwa Bwala the spokesperson for the former governor of Borno State, argued that the affected person was not speaking for Sheriff.

Be that as it may, In another development there were signs that the Sheriff camp was ruffled with the non-recognition of its candidate for the Ondo State governorship election, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim.

As a replay of the Edo scenerio, Sheriff had forwarded Ibrahim’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission as its candidate.

However, the commission recognised the candidate of the Makarfi’s  faction, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), as the candidate of the PDP for the election. The election is slated for November 26.

In the just concluded Edo State governorship election, the commission also rejected Mr. Mathew Idorioyekemwen, the candidate nominated for the election by the Sheriff faction.

Rather, it went ahead to recognise Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who was nominated by the Makarfi’s faction for the election.

INEC Justies their verdict claiming a court order to be the sole reason for its action.