…He’s working for APC–Makarfi group
From Taiwo Amodu, Abuja
Former Borno State governor and chairman of the dissolved National Working Committee, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has made good his threat to rubbish the PDP governorship primary election that produced Pastor Ize Iyamu.
Iyamu had emerged at the primaries organised by the Caretaker Committee under the leadership of former Kaduna State governor, Ahmed Makarfi.
But Senator Ali Modu Sheriff yesterday invited newsmen to his private residence where he unveiled a committee to conduct a fresh primary election in Edo State. The former Borno State governor had on Tuesday written a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) asking the electoral body to disregard the primary organised by Ahmed Makarfi.
Sheriff yesterday announced Senator Hope Uzodinmma and former special adviser on National assembly matters, Ahmed Gulak as chairman and secretary of a team to conduct a fresh primary election.
He also constituted a three man Ad-Hoc delegate panel with former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi as Chairman with Honourable Bala Aboki as secretary.
The former Borno governor restated his stance that he is the authentic national chairman of the party and claimed that the primary election conducted on Monday was not monitored by INEC. He further claimed that the Commission has handed over to him, guidelines for the conduct of the party primaries for him to conduct a proper one.
He assured his supporters that he would produce a candidate for the party by next Thursday to beat the July 10th INEC deadline for the submission of party candidate for the elections.
Apparently referring to the Ahmed Makarfi committee, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff said any group parading itself as authentic leadership of the main opposition party were only deceiving themselves.
In its reaction, the Ahmed Makarfi committee cautioned chieftains of the party not to take any appointment offered by the former Borno State governor.
Spokesperson for the Senator Makarfi committee, Dayo Adeyeye in a statement restated its claim that Senator Sheriff has connived with some former and serving governors of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to completely cripple the PDP to serve the interest of the ruling party.
“It is now very clear that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is working very hard for the enemies of our great party. First, the Edo primary election and all the processes leading to it thereof were properly conducted, monitored and observed by INEC. Edo PDP Chairman has warned Sheriff to steer clear of their affairs as the party in the state is resolutely united behind Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the Candidate of the PDP”.
The caretaker committee further warned that any of its members serving in any committee set up by Senator Sheriff will be engaging in anti-party activities and will face disciplinary action.
It dismissed Senator Sheriff’s claim of a court pronouncement empowering him to conduct a fresh primary election in Edo State.