PDP ceasefire hits brick wall

The ceasefire by Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi to end the leadership crisis rocking the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have hit the brick wall following the constitution of a parallel Delta PDP exco.

While Sheriff is the former national chairman of the party, Makarfi chairs the national caretaker committee of the PDP.

Recall that Sheriff had inaugurated the Austin Ogbaburhon-led exco in Abuja a fortnight ago. He was represented at the ceremony by his Deputy National Chairman, Cairo Ojougboh.

Earlier in May this year, a congress midwifed by the Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa, had produced Kingsley Esiso as Delta PDP chairman, recognised by Makarfi.

The development comes as both Sheriff and Makarfi have agreed to set up a 24-man committee to handle negotiation between the two warring groups.

The committee, which will consist of 12 members each from the two factions, is expected to be unveiled this week.

A highly placed source in the party revealed that the need not to be schemed in the peace deal by both party gladiators, may have informed Ojougboh to inaugurate the parallel state executive in Delta State.

According to the source who spoke on condition of anonymity, Ojuogboh had already lost out in his state, Delta, hence he inaugurated the Ogbaburhon-led exco to serve as a ‘bargaining tool’.

But in a telephone chat with BusinessDay on Monday, Esiso described the inauguration of the parallel executive as an exercise in futility, insisting that he remains the bona fide chairman of the party, having been duly elected in a state congress earlier this year.

“There was no congress in Delta State that brought in the Austin Ogbaburhon-led exco. PDP did their congress in May. There was no congress that brought him, it was just a charade. You are aware that PDP did their congress in May, not now.

“I remain the authentic state chairman of the party”, he affirmed.

He dispelled fears by political commentators that the development in the state would have a negative impact on the reconciliation efforts at the national level, asking party loyalists to disregard to Ojuogboh.

His words: “The reconciliation is going on well. Cairo Ojuogboh, whatever he is doing is just a charade. But the reconciliation between Makarfi and Sheriff is going on well”.