From: Paul Osuyi, Asaba
A section of the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has given Governor Ifeanyi Okowa conditions that must be met if they must fully return to the party under the leadership of Ahmed Makarfi as the national chairman of the party.
They said the only way for enduring peace to prevail was for the governor to address the challenges of impunity and imposition of candidates for elections by selfish elders and leaders of the party across various localities.
The conditions were issued after Governor Okowa addressed an enlarged meeting of the PDP in Asaba where he urged all leaders and elders to back to the basis and ensure that popular candidates emerges as party flag bearers in every election.
But the returning former members of the Sheriff faction led by Engr. Sylvester Ojie from Ndokwa East council area noted that the governor must match words with action if his directive would not again be subverted by selfish leaders and elders.
Engr. Ojie, supported by Shaddrack Opia and 10 others claimed that they were victims of imposition, oppression and unlawful exclusion from elections, hence they had to pitch tent with the Sheriff faction in the peak of the crisis.
They said the internal wrangling in Ndokwa East was not about Sheriff and Makarfi leadership tussle but the incessant imposition of candidates by one of the leaders in the area.