PDP BoT urges warring parties to withdraw court cases

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged party members who are pursuing court cases against the party to withdraw such cases and embrace reconciliation.

The litigants were advised against involving external forces in the affairs of the party but to find amicable means of settling their differences.

Rising from an enlarged meeting of the BoT, the Concerned Stakeholders group and the Caretaker Committee in Abuja Thursday, the party chieftains expressed concerns over the unity and stability of the party.

They cautioned that ongoing court cases were capable of deepening the festering leadership crisis in the party, adding that trend could adversely affect the health of the party.

In a communique read by Secretary of the BoT, Chief Ojo Maduekwe after the meeting, the party chiefs said the various organs and stakeholders have resolved to respect decisions taken at the party’s May 21 convention held in Port Harcourt. 

The meeting recognised the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee set up by the convention to run the affairs of the party pending the election of a new set of officials.

It also called on members and other interested parties to give recognition to the Makarfi committee to allow it perform its functions.

The meeting added that the BoT, in consultation with key stakeholders, would henceforth preside over reconciliatory initiatives involving contending interests and groups.

The Makarfi committee was enjoined to involve stakeholders and the various groups in the discharge of its assignment.

Ex party chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff and Makarfi briefly met with the party elders for 10 minutes, from 11.09 to 11.19 in the morning, after which they both left the Transcorp Hilton Hotel venue of the meeting.

However, while Makarfi came back to rejoin the meeting, Sheriff never did. Chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin explained that Sheriff could not rejoin the meeting because the timing was not convenient for him.

Other at the meeting included the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu; Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Ibrahim Mantu, Mrs. Stella Omu, Hajia Inna Ciroma, Senator Ben Obi.

Also at the meeting were a number of former ministers, former governors and members of the National Assembly.