Sheriff bows to PDP NEC, names committees

After about a month of dillydallying, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff on Sunday named the four special committees in preparation for the party’s national convention.

The National Executive Committee of the main opposition party had mandated him and members of the National Working Committee at its meeting on March 7, to constitute the committees.

However, rather than name members of the committees, Sheriff and members of the NWC were said to be negotiating on how they would return to office on May 21, the date set aside for the national convention.

The non -compliance with the NEC directive had made the Board of Trustees to summon Sheriff to its meeting, which would hold this week.

Acting Chairman of the Board, who is also its Secretary, Senator Walid Jibril, said Sheriff would be expected to brief the Board on preparations for the convention.

Apparently determined to beat the Board’s invitation, Sheriff in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in Abuja, said the Committees, which are to be inaugurated on Tuesday, are the National Convention Committee, Reconciliation Committee, Zoning Committee and the Finance Committee.

The National Convention Committee has Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike as chairman, Taraba state Governor, Dairus Ishiaku as Deputy Chairman while the Governor of Ebonyi State, Governor Mr. Dave Umahi will serve as the Secretary.

Similarly, the Reconciliation Committee has Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson as Chairman; Senator Ibrahim Mantu as Deputy Chairman.

The Finance Committee has Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo as Chairman and Senator Godswill Akpabio as Deputy Chairman.

In the same vein, the Zoning Committee has Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Udom as Chairman and Mr. Kelechi Igwe as Secretary.