The factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff has written the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) asking the commission to ignore a letter by the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee notifying it of a proposed August 17, 2016 PDP National Convention.
In the letter dated August 2, 2016, Senator Sheriff told 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.
According to Sheriff, the only body that can call for and ratify activities culminating to a National Convention of PDP, is the National Executive Committee (NEC) as enshrined in Article 31 (2)(a) of the Constitution of the PDP.
He said as the chairman of the PDP, he was not planning any National Convention as he has not been so authorized by the National Executive Committee, adding that any person or group of persons planning for such 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 jointly signed by Senator Sheriff and the former National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo reads on part:
“Kindly refer to a letter dated 20th 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”.
“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”.
