2019 Pendulum Upswings, Sheriff, NWC, Jonathan, Others, Scamper For Soul Of PDP

Information available to 247ureports.com through a consortium of sources knowledgeable of the ongoings within the leadership structures of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] indicate that the recent pronouncement of the former governor of Borno State, Alhaji Ali Amodu Sheriff as the new PDP Chairman to replace the resigned chairman, Malam Muazu – may have been made under erroneous situation. According to firsthand information, the supposed crowding of the former Borno Governor came through the back door of the PDP. “Even the former President of Nigeria who is the present leader of the PDP was not even aware that Modu Sheriff was among the contestants for the position.” – stated a source who confined in our correspondent that some within the national working committee [NWC] of the party had betrayed an earlier agreement on who the committee had selected for the Chairmanship seat.

“Sheriff bulldozed his way into the top seat”, the source continued while explaining that the NWC had virtually concluded on the PDP chairmanship matter a few days before – and had made internal pronouncements of their choice for the top seat. “Our choice was even relayed in writing to all the relevant stakeholders involved in the process”. The source indicated that the former Minister for the Federal Capital Territory [FCT], Bala Mohammed was the choice of the NWC. “All the members of the NWC signed a letter to that effect“.

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It is to this effect that the Board of Trustees [BOT] of the party had come out to the full glare of the public to denounce and distance themselves from the pronouncement of Sheriff as the new chairman. The BOT of the party made the public declaration following a meeting by PDP stakeholders at a hotel in Abuja – where former federal ministers who had served under the former president were in full attendance including some aggrieved members of the BOT.

The content of the discussion at the meeting was not made available to 247ureports.com but the actions and body language of the attendees indicated that more was on the offing against the Ali Modu Sheriff group. Out on the bat, following the meeting, the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was quoted as having expressed interest in having the PDP chairman be a person that has a consensus agreement unlike the Sheriff imposition on the party. Our source stated that while Dr. Jonathan was outside the country, he made his position clear – that the PDP top seat should be occupied by a person who has the following of the majority of the NWC and the PDP Governor’s Forum.

But some members of the NWC who support the Sheriff imposition on the party discards Jonathan’s take on the issue by adding that Jonathan has no power “to influence anything any longer in this party” – and that the Governor’s have made it clear that they do not have the funds and are not willing to provide funds to the party – for this reason the source claims Ali Modu Sheriff became an obvious choice – because Sheriff has indicated interest in funding the party alone. The other candidates with the exception of Bala Mohammed are not able to provide funds to the party without external assistance.

Nonetheless, the Jonathan group seem to be auguring for a middle ground. They, according to our source want the removal of Sheriff – and a replacement with another individual that meets the requirements of the two groups. The Jonathan group are said to be more concerned with rising rancor within the party – and a possible fractionalization of the party – that may lead to more defections out the party.They want a less controversial personality to stir the battered ship of the PDP.

While the other group are more concerning with financing of the party and a personality that will match the personality of the President of the federation tic for tat. Many within the PDP believe Ali Modu Sheriff to be virtually untouchable. “He will not be given the treatment meted to Olisa Metu because there will be immediate consequences” stated the source who explained that the aura of thuggery that surrounds the former Borno Governor remains a factor in today political equation. “We want someone who can talk and challenge the President and not be treated like Olisa Metu was.” They also added that there exist an extended marital relationship between the Buhari family and the Sheriff family.

The solution to the quagmire remains evasive. It is gathered that the ongoing scampering for the top seat has to do with the setting up the stage against the upcoming presidential elections of 2019. Ali Modu Sheriff is reported to have interest in contesting for the position along with a host of other northeast politicians. According to 247ureports.com investigations, the many contestants have intentions to mount the seat and be the chairman to arrange for the next PDP national convention which comes up only months away. They want to be influential in placing the next PDP chairman and the next National Executive Council [NEC] – so as to help pave the way for their presidential aspirations.