Makarfi: We won’t abandon PDP for Sheriff

The Sen Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissociated itself from any plans to float another political party as an alternative.

The National Caretaker Committee of the party led by Makarfi noted in a statement on Sunday, that it has “no hands in the purported planned registration of Advanced Peoples Democratic Party (APDP)”

Mr Dayo Adeyeye, who signed the statement for members of the party loyal to Makarfi stated that there are no “plans to abandon the party structure to Ali Modu-Sheriff led group”.

Recall that a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had declared Sen Sheriff as the authentic chairman of the party, but the Makarfi group has appealed the judgement at the Supreme Court.

But Adeyeye said that, “no decision has been taken that the PDP should be abandoned and a new party formed out of the current structure. At least, no such proposal is before the National Caretaker committee as at this moment”.

The statement continued in part, “We however acknowledge and recognize the rights of party members to seek alternative platform to actualize their political dreams, which is an inalienable right guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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He also reiterated the faction’s belief that “the issues before the Supreme Court will be resolved on the side of truth and Justice will be served in the interest of peace”.

Many watchers are however of the opinion that the plans to float the APDP which application is already before INEC, according to reports, is a ploy to seek an alternative platform, in case the Supreme Court judgement goes in favour of Sheriff.

Many stalwarts of the party, including a former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani Kayode have voiced their intention to leave the party, if Sheriff ends up as the national chairman of a party that once prided itself as the largest on the African continent.