Abuja, – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Rescue Group has advised the party’s National Chairman, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, to immediately constitute the four committees approved by the National Executive Committee.
The group urged the national chairman to set up the committees to enable them to play their roles in the party’s upcoming congresses and National Convention.
This is contained in a statement signed by Amb. Wilberforce Juta and Mr Muktar Shagari, the group’s Chairman and Secretary, respectively, in Abuja on Friday.
It stated that the advice became necessary following Sheriff’s failure to constitute the committees as approved by the party’s organs few weeks ago.
The statement added that the advice was part of the group’s resolution to correct the current impasse and anomalies in the party.
“Late February, 2016, the extended National Caucus of the PDP met to resolve the leadership crisis in the party.
“The meeting recommended to the National Executive Committee (NEC) that the tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC) be extended to May, 2016.
“The 69th NEC meeting accepted that recommendation and approved a Time Table for congresses at all levels to culminate in a National Convention to be held in Port Harcourt on May 21,’’ it recalled.
The statement said that NEC also approved the setting up of Zoning Committee to determine zoning of national offices among the six zones, National Congresses and Convention Planning Committee (NCCPC), Finance Committee and Reconciliation Committee.
“The PDP Rescue Group observes that the decision of the NEC is yet to be implemented barely few weeks to the commencement of the congresses.
“This apparent foot-dragging has many incalculable damages on our efforts to re-position the PDP as an effective opposition party,” it stated.
It said that it was the failure of Sheriff to constitute the committees that prompted the group “to live up to its responsibility to salvage the situation by guiding it back on track’’.
“We strongly advise that the four committees approved by NEC be constituted immediately for free, fair and credible congresses and convention to be achieved,” the group stressed.
The statement said that the group supported the NEC for adopting the Ekweremadu Committee’s recommendation to zone the 2019 presidential ticket to the North.
It stated that the recommendation was suggestive that the chairmanship of the party be zoned to the south in line with the zoning rotation tradition of the party. (NAN)
