PDP senators seek Governors, BoT, Makarfi’s faction’s approval to meet Sheriff

Facts emerged on Wednesday that senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have decided to seek the permission of governors of the party before the meeting with the National Chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff.
The decision was taken by the PDP senators after a closed door meeting.
Sheriff had written a letter to Senate caucus of the PDP on March 6 in order to hold a meeting with the opposition senators.
Our correspondent gathered, according to the letter, that the meeting is expected to hold on March 9.
Addressing journalists after a one hour closed door meeting, the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, explained the Federal lawmakers had resolved to seek out of court settlement in order for peace to reign in the party.
According to Akpabio: “As a caucus, we believe strongly in peace.
“That is why we are holding the meeting so that we can settle the matter out of court.”
On the meeting with Sheriff, Akpabio said: “We held a meeting.
“There was a letter from Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to the Senate caucus and so we had to meet first whether this is the right time for the meeting to hold or not and what we agreed is that he should meet with the leadership first, thereafter, we will meet him and will meet Makarfi faction, then BoT and then see whether we can reach consensus or not.”
It will be recalled that the Port Harcourt Division of Court of Appeal ruled that Sheriff is the legitimate National Chairman of the PDP.
Due to the conflicting judgments by the lower courts, both parties went to the Appeal Court to seek redress.‎
Makarfi challenged the decision of Justice Okon Abang at the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court, but the court could not take a decision because Sheriff had already filed a suit challenging his removal by a High Court in Rivers State.
The PDP leadership crisis started in May 2016 at its National Convention in Port Harcourt.
Sheriff had called for a cancellation of the exercise when he got wind of the alleged plot of some party leaders to remove him.
But the convention went on as planned, during which a caretaker committee, chaired by Makarfi, was set up.