PDP To Go Ahead With National Convention Despite Sheriff’s Doggedness

This was disclosed by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman, Rivers State ad hoc Ward/National Delegate Congress, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.

Ihedioha, who said he was in Rivers State to ensure a peaceful ward congress, explained that the PDP was confident that the convention would hold.

He describing the factional chairman of the PDP, Senator Modu Sheriff as an interloper, adding that he (Sheriff) had no power to stop the convention from holding as planned.

He said, “We will be focused and confident that the national convention of the PDP will hold. We cannot be distracted by agents that are against the ideals of our party.

“Sheriff is an interloper. No one has the authority to say that he has cancelled or suspended the convention. Decisions were taken at a national convention that was held in Port Harcourt. The party constitution is supreme.”

Sheriff had insisted that the PDP postpone the August 17 national convention, reconstitute the convention planning committee and ensure that a new venue other than Port Harcourt, Rivers State, be chosen.

He listed all of the above as conditions to end his fight against the party.

“I say no to the convention in Port Harcourt on the 17th. The date and venue must be set by all stakeholders and approved by INEC,” he said.

Sheriff further said that the governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, must be removed as chairman of the convention planning committee, and that the Makarfi-led caretaker committee be disbanded.

According to Sheriff, “the caretaker committee is an illegal contraption unknown to the PDP constitution and must be disbanded.

“All forms of impunity and lawlessness must stop. The ward, local government and state congresses already concluded and approved by NEC must stand,” he said.