Party Chair: PDP BoT explains U-turn to support Sheriff

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, explained that it backed down on its opposition to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff's emergence as national chairman of the party to ensure the unity, cohesion and future successes of the party.

In a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting of the board in Abuja, the BOT, however, insisted that Senator Sheriff and all members of the National Working Committee of the party must vacate their positions to give way to a new leadership within three months.

A day after members of the BoT insisted that Senator Sheriff was not fit to be the chairman party, it made a dramatic volte face after meeting with PDP governors.

But in a communiqué issued to explain its change in position, the board said as the conscience of the party, it had the moral capacity to reinvent the party due to its unity of purpose and internal cohesion.

It said: 'In this connection, in spite of the initial position taken by the BoT, its desire to ensure the unity, cohesion and future successes of the party has necessitated a review of its earlier position.

'Consequently, it resolved to adopt the decisions taken at the stakeholders meeting. It, however, urged the full implementation of all the decisions/programmes agreed upon at the stakeholder meeting of Tuesday, February 23, 2016.'

The communique, which was signed by former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, further emphasised: 'Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and all current members of the National Working Committee must vacate their positions to give way to new leadership within the 3 months' time frame.'

While reaffirming its confidence in its acting Chairman, Senator Wales Jibrin, the BOT members reiterated their commitment to continue to work with other stakeholders in the party to revive it and called on the supporters to remain steadfast in their support for the party.