PDP: Sheriff Lobbies INEC Against PH Convention

Sheriff Writes INEC To Ignore Makarfi’s Proposed August 17 PDP National Convention

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff has written to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) asking the commission to completely ignore a letter by the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led contentious PDP Caretaker Committee notifying it of a proposed August 17, 2016 PDP National Convention.

Sheriff in a letter dated August 2, 2016 reminded the commission that the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee is illegal and has no powers under the PDP constitution to convene the party’s National Convention.

The letter, received at INEC on Wednesday August 3, 2016 pointedly informed the commission that the only body that can call for and ratify activities culminating to a National Convention of PDP, is the National Executive Committee (NEC) headed by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman as enshrined in Article 31 (2)(a) of the Constitution of the PDP.

Sheriff said the commission and the general public should note that the PDP is not planning any National Convention as he has not been so authorized by the National Executive Committee.  He cautioned that any person or group of persons planning for an event is doing so as an illegal body and in direct contempt of valid Court Orders.

The letter titled Re: Notification Of Ward Congresses And National Convention and signed by Sheriff and the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo reads;

“Kindly refer to a letter dated 20^th July, 2016 by the illegal PDP Caretaker Committee purported to notifying INEC of a proposed Ward Congresses to nominate 3 Ad-hoc Delegates on wed August 10, 2016 and LGA Congresses to nominate National Delegates on Friday August 12, 2016 for a repeat National Convention, and also a repeat National Convention slated for Wednesday August 17, 2016.

For the avoidance of doubt, the only body that can call for and ratify activities culminating to a National Convention of our great Party the PDP is our Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) headed by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman.

This is enshrined in Article 31 (2)(a) of our Party’s Constitution – “The National Executive Committee shall;

a)   “Convene the National Convention and appoint a Convention Organizing Committee which shall circulate the convention information in advance and ensure that the concerns of the membership are reflected on the agenda”.

f) Prepare reports and budgets for approval by the National Convention.

The Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led PDP is not planning any National Convention, as he has not been so authorized by the National Executive Committee of the PDP. Any person or group of persons planning for an event is doing so as an illegal body and in direct contempt of valid Court Orders. This letter is to kindly put you on notice to ignore any such notifications by the illegal Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee.