Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has appointed the immediate past vice chairman (South-South) of the party, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh as the faction’s Deputy National Chairman.
Ojougboh was one of the party’s mainstream national officials that were sacked during the May 21 national convention of the party in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Ojougboh’s letter of appointment was jointly signed by Sheriff and the faction’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo.
The letter reads, “Please, be informed that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in a meeting held on the 28th of June 2016, and having received nomination from the Concerned PDP stakeholders (Abuja Convention Group) and major stakeholders in the South-south has appointed you as the Acting Deputy National Chairman of the party pending the conduct of election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the erstwhile Deputy National Chairman. This appointment takes immediate effect”.
Sheriff and Oladipo, through the letter, urged Ojougboh to discharge his functions with dedication to ensure the progress of the party.
SEE ALSO: Leadership Crisis: State PDP Chairmen Declare Support For Makarfi
Meanwhile, another set of “chairmen” of state chapters of the PDP yesterday endorsed Sheriff as the party’s “authentic” National Chairman.
The endorsement of Mr. Sheriff came on the heels of Monday’s pledge of loyalty by 23 state chairmen of the party to the Chairman of the Caretaker committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
While the pro-Makarfi state chairmen based their pledge to the caretaker committee on the decision of the botched May 21 convention, the pro-Sheriff set hinged their position on a ruling of a Lagos High Court, which restrained the party from electing a replacement for Sheriff.
Expressing appreciation for the visit by the state chairmen, Sheriff declared that the set of state chairmen that pledged loyalty to Makarfi were not the authentic chairmen.
He claimed that the party had yet to elect chairmen in 23 of the 36 states of the federation, adding that his mission was not to destroy the party but to rebuild it.
Sheriff, who declared readiness to step down as chairman if the court ruled against him, however, vowed never to succumb to pressure by the party’s governors to quit.
The state chairmen, who declared support for Sheriff as national chairman were those of Ondo, Imo, Ogun, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
The delegation later passed a vote of confidence in Sheriff.
