PDP States chairmen break into two factions

It follows the division at the national level, between the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi camps.

Both sets of state chairmen held parallel meetings on Wednesday in Abuja.

While one faction comprising 22 members declared support for Sheriff, the other faction from 26 states affirmed support for Makarfi.

Those loyal to Sheriff met with him at the party’s national secretariat, while 26 state chairmen who support Makarfi met at Valencia Hotel.

Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State chapter, Paul Ebong Ekpo, presided over the meeting of the 26 ‎state chairmen, while the meeting of the 22 chairmen was headed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) PDP chairman, ‎Yunusa Suleiman‎.

Addressing newsmen afterwards, Ekpo explained that ‎the meeting was in tune with the efforts of the reconciliation committee headed by Governor Seriake Dickson‎.

“The Forum takes serious objection to the way and manner a few of our colleagues, without authority used the names of the Forum to convene purported meeting of the Forum of PDP Chairmen on March 17, 2017.

“The Forum is not happy that many chapter chairmen of the party had their names, telephone numbers written as attendees and their signatures forged.

“The Forum is aware that the affected chairmen have since denounced the fraudulent use of their names. We therefore support whatever appropriate action these chairmen may deem fit and proper to take to protect their good names,” Ekpo stated.