Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Muhammad Ahmed Makarfi said yesterday in Abuja that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised the committee put in place after the aborted national convention of the party in Port Harcourt recently.
Markafi stated this in a veiled reference to declaration by the former chairman of PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, that the caretaker committee was illegal when he led the committee members on a courtesy visit to the caucus of the party at the National Assembly.
He informed the law makers during the courtesy visit that the fact that INEC could invite the committee to a meeting meant that it had gained the recognition of the commission.
“Yesterday (Tuesday), we attended our first official engagement after taking over. It was a meeting convened by INEC. And for us to attend a meeting convened by INEC and make useful contributions, that should tell everybody what that means”, Makarfi said.
Sheriff had in a statement signed by his media adviser, Inwa Bwala described the handing over of the affairs of the party to the caretaker committee as illegal, null and void, claiming to have remained the party’s national chairman.
He stated: “Our attention has been drawn to the activities at the National secretariat of the PDP to the effect that some individuals masquerading as leaders have handed over to Ahmed Mohammed Makarki under a contraption called “caretaker committee.
“We state as a matter of fact that going by proceedings still pending in the courts to the effect that Senator Ali Sheriff remains the National Chairman, whatever transpired was null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
“Sheriff has not mandated anybody, nor was his authority obtained by Uche Secondus, who has been parading himself as acting on behalf of the national chairman”.
Makarfi, however, told the lawmakers that his …Read More
Source:: Nigerian Pilot
