PDP crisis: No agreement with Makarfi yet, says Sheriff

Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, has said that he has yet to reach an agreement with the Chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi.His position came barely three days after the party said it had zoned theoffice of the national chairman to the southern part of the country.The caretaker committee also announced that the party’s next nationalconvention where national officers are to be elected, would hold in Port Harcourt on August 17.At its expanded national caucus meeting held on Thursday in Abuja, the party said that the presence of Sen. Buruji Kashamu, a strong supporter of Sheriff at the meeting, was an evidence that its reconciliation effort was yielding results.But on Saturday, Sheriff emphasised that his faction was still pursuing its cases in court, but said that he would address the nation on the state of the party, on Monday.Speaking through his factional deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Sheriff said, “I have the express permission of Sheriff to inform our teeming supporters and PDP faithful nationwide that he has not reached agreement with anybody, neither has he permitted anybody to concludeon any processes on his behalf.“We are continuing with our cases in court, we respect the rule of law. Sheriff will address a press conference on Monday on the state of our party, PDP. Our goal remains to return the party to the people and stamp out impunity.”It was gathered that few days ago, some leaders of the party had met with Sheriff to find a lasting solution to the crisis bedevelling the party.Apart from Makarfi, it was gathered that the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, were at the reconciliatory meeting.Our correspondent gathered that supporters of Buruji in Sheriff camp may also abandon the former governor of Borno State and support Makarfi.