After weeks of controversy and intriguing battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party, the party’s National Executive Committee meeting on
Wednesday finally affirmed the zoning of the chairmanship position to the North-East. But the atmosphere at the poorly attended NEC meeting painted a picture that all may not be well with the opposition party after all.
Most of those who spoke at the opening of the NEC meeting were all calling for truce and for those who may have disagreed with the decisions reached at the NEC meeting to sheathe their sword and remain in the party. Speaking to journalists on the outcome of the meeting, the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff said that the NEC has approved the report of the zoning and convention committees.
Regarding the highly contested chairmanship position, Sheriff said that the seat has been zoned to the North-East by the NEC without any dissenting voice. “The NEC meeting has adopted the report of the zoning committee 100% without any dissenting voice. It approved the zoning of the post of e National Chairman to the North East,” he said. Sheriff said that the party’s NEC will meet again on the May 11 to approve proposals for constitutional amendments ahead of the national convention According to the report of the zoning committee, the South West is to retaining the position of the National Secretary while the National Organizing Secretary and Youth Leader is to be produced by (South East). Similarly the committee zoned the Deputy National Chairman South back to the South-South.
When asked whether he will be contesting for the chairmanship position at the May convention, Sheriff said:”The issue is a personal decision for me and when I make up my mind on it I will let you know”. Earlier, Sheriff had expressed satisfaction over the recent outing of the party during a rally in Jigawa state, describing it as a sign of things to come.”
