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The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff

Era of impunity, imposition over in PDP, says Sheriff
 
By:
Wed, 9 Mar 2016   ||   Nigeria, Abuja
 

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has promised members of the party nationwide that the party under his leadership will not allow for the imposition of candidates in the forthcoming congresses and national convention of the party.

Addressing leaders of the Party from Adamawa state who came on a solidarity visit, Senator Sheriff said the era of impunity and imposition in the party was over, saying that the party lost the 2015 elections because of impunity and imposition of unpopular candidates.

According to the party’s national Chairman, “what happened to Adamawa PDP before the election is what happened to most part of Nigeria. That is why we are in opposition today.

I don’t believe that anybody who is not accepted by his municipality could come to Abuja and manipulate the system.

We had no reason to lose Adamawa; we had no reason to lose Borno.

It was the impunity that the party was run in the past that caused it. I want to assure you that no body from the NWC will go and do any wrong thing.

Adamawa is a very complicated state. PDP is entrenched in Adamawa more than any state in Nigeria. We must have a base before coming to the national level. Adamawa is one state that whether you like or not, you must have an understanding between the Christians and the Muslims.

The congress committee will not be manipulated by anybody. I am interested in what happened on Adamawa, Gombe, Borno, Taraba and Bauchi so that we will get it right. I will make sure that the right thing happen in Maiduguri.

I want to assure you that the right thing will happen. I will not impose anybody. You can be my friend in Abuja but not in the locality that you operate” he said.

Senator Sheriff direct the situation whereby an unpopular candidate was imposed on the PDP leading to the loss of elections during the gubernatorial election in 2015, pointing out that PDP under his leadership cannot afford such mistakes again.

Earlier in his speech, the state Chairman of the PDP, Joel Madaki, said the delegation was in Abuja to pledge loyalty to and solidarity with the National Chairman of the party on his election as the national chairman of the party.

“God has not made a mistake to have made you chairman at this time. We are here to support you. In politics, we disagree in order to agree. If people disagree, then is is a healthy game. You have been tested and found worthy. We know how you ruled Borno State. Three months is long enough time to reposition the party. Adamawa is with you. Our elders are with you” he said.

Also speaking, former senator Representing Adamawa South, Senator Grace Bent urged the chairman to remain neutral but firm in the discharge of his duties, noting that some people had already started dropping the name of the chairman in the state.

“I sympathize and emphasize with you. It is a noble assignment but also a very difficult one. The Adamawa chapter will do one thing for you. We will continue to pray for you to weather the storm. Adamawa state PDP is bruised and battered. We were beaten sometimes and told not to cry. We ask of one thing. Be fearless, be transparent, deal with impunity. Your name is being dropped already. Don’t allow this to continue to happen” she said.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu who joined the PDP chairman to receive the Adamawa PDP members said the party can no longer afford to allow impunity and imposition dominate its affairs.

“The PDP you are seeing today is on the road. We are moving towards forming government in 2019. The days of imposition is over. Our problems have always been manipulation. The days of manipulations are over. Adamawa governor is PDP. We only lend him to APC. He will come back” he said.

 

 

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