The factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has said hr would not intervene in the crisis rocking the party in Ondo State as it pertains to the choice of candidate for the upcoming governorship election.
While Jimoh Ibrahim emerged as candidate at the primary conducted by the Sheriff faction of the party, Eyitayo Jegede was thrown up at the one held by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction.
The Independent National Electoral Commission is to announce the candidates for the election on November 27.
Sheriff said his position is that he will not take sides in any conflict over the choice of candidate.
In a statement, Sheriff said: “This is against widespread speculations linking him with controversies surrounding the emergence of Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) and Jimoh Ibrahim as candidates of the PDP for the Ondo elections, to the effect that he has been arms twisting the electoral body.
“Sheriff wishes to state that, as a law abiding leader, he is bound by whoever INEC publishes as both candidates in contention are respectable members of the PDP, and he will treat their issues based on merits and in accordance with the law.
“He dismisses insinuations that he is behind several petitions against the INEC stressing that, he has done his duty by submitting a name to INEC, and expects that the Commission will act in accordance with its own mandate.
“Sheriff is not unmindful of events leading to the emergence of the two candidates, but wishes to assure Nigerians that steps are being taken to resolve all such issues even beyond what INEC may do, to avoid past experiences occasioned by internal bickering in the PDP.
“The national chairman wishes to assure the people of Ondo State that, Party Leaders have been working to ensure the PDP wins in the forthcoming elections, immaterial of who fly’s its flag.
“He is not aware of any alleged move to blackmail INEC as he has high regards for the Commission, even as he charges INEC to ensure that the PDP is not short changed in any future election, but should allow the people’s votes to count.
“Ali Modu Sheriff did not author nor did he authorize any petition to be written on his behalf, as is being mischievously alleged in some sections of the media and wish to state that people should stop using his name to settle scores.”
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