PDP crisis: Peace talks hits a brick wall

The much talked about peace talks between the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party Caretaker Committee and the Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction, appears to have hit a brick wall.

This followed the insistence of both sides to negotiate from a position of strength.

Findings by Sunday PUNCH in Abuja, on Saturday, revealed that none of the two groups had shifted positions on the contentious issue of who the authentic leader of the party was.

While none had agreed to withdraw the pending litigations in court, each was calling on the other to renounce any claim to the leadership of the party.

Although it is not clear if the Makarfi-led committee has filed contempt charges against Sheriff, the committee’s call for his arrest by the police, has not been rescinded.

It was gathered that the committee also insisted that last week’s judgment by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, which upheld the convention and its appointment, should remain the basis of any negotiation.

Sheriff and his supporters on the other hand, our correspondent learnt, insisted that since they had appealed the judgement and that other cases were still pending, the judicial process should be allowed to run its full course.

When contacted, the Publicity Secretary of the Makarfi-led Committee, Dayo Adeyeye said, “The issue is very clear, it was Sheriff and a few party members who rebelled against the party. What we have said and have continued to say is that, they should sheath their swords and come back home.

“Our doors have always been open, they should come to the negotiating table and let’s talk. There is really no reason to continue to drag this matter.”

On his part, the Special Adviser(Media) to Sheriff, Mr. Inuwa Bwala said, “The fact which has not changed is that as at today, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is the National Chairman of our great party the PDP.

“He is ready to receive all party members who due to one reason or another were mislead into going somewhere else. While the cases in court are still on, we are not opposed to a reasonable political solution.”

Source: punch ng