‘Sheriff’s tenure must end March 28’

Dissatisfied with the three-month grace for the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP), Sen. Modu Ali Sheriff, some members of the PDP Ministers Forum may go to court to seek an injunction restraining him from leading the party.

Ali Modu Sheriff

They described Sheriff’s election and ratification by the National Executive Committee as illegal.

Also, the ex-ministers have asked Sheriff to step down latest by March 28.

It was learnt that some of the ex-ministers opted for court action following the refusal of some organs of the party to limit Sheriff’s mandate to the completion of the tenure of ex-National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu.

A source in the forum said: “We have weighed all options. Some of our members have decided to go to court to seek an injunction because the process leading to his nomination and selection was illegal.”

These aggrieved members have also resolved to ask the court to stop Sheriff from being the National Chairman of PDP beyond March 28.

“We will file our application in court any moment from now.”

In a communiqué at the end of their session on Tuesday, the ex-ministers rejected the three-month tenure given Sheriff by some organs of the party.

The communiqué, which was signed by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki(SAN) and Chief Ojo Maduekwe, said: “We the Peoples’ Democratic Party ministers from 1999-2015 (hereinafter referred to as ‘The Forum’) met on Tuesday, 23rd February, 2016 in Abuja and deliberated on recent developments in the party, among other issues.

“The forum reiterates and affirms our commitment to the ideals and core values of the founding principles of our great party.

“Having considered the decision of the National Executive Committee of PDP in the last executive Committee meeting of Tuesday 16th February, 2016, the forum resolves as follows:

• The forum rejects Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman of the PDP due to the illegitimacy of the process that purportedly brought him in.


• The forum commends and supports the stand of the Board of Trustees of the Party for their rejection of the imposition of Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff for lack of transparency and internal democracy in the process.


• The forum calls for the conduct of congresses at all levels of the party, leading to a National convention that should be held before the 28th of March, 2016 to return power to the people in tandem with the constitution of our Party and as encapsulated in our party’s motto: “Power to the People”.


• The forum condemns all acts of impunity in the running of the affairs of the party, at all levels and implores all members to respect the constitution of the party and that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

A group, Osun Ibile Forum, has warned Sheriff over his threat against former Aviation Minister , Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

In a statement signed by its Coordinator , Prince  Adeoluwa Adesegun, the group said Chief Fani-Kayode’s statement on Boko Haram was already in public domain.

The group queried  why  Sheriff should issue personal warning on an issue already of public knowledge.

‘Sheriff’s tenure must end March 28’