PDP CRISIS RENEWED

Makarfi dissolves Anambra Excos ahead of election

A fresh crisis on Thursday, July 27, hit Nigeria's largest opposition party Peoples Democratic Party following the decision of the Ahmed Makarfi caretaker committee to dissolve Anambra party officials. The caretaker committee successfully dissolved the Ken Emekayi-led officials in Anambra state which has started brewing fresh crisis within the party.

It was also gathered that the House of Representatives caucus, prior to the crisis, warned the Makarfi-led caretaker committee against its decision to dissolve the functional executives in the state.
The House caucus in a letter dated July 27, said the dissolution of the duly election Anambra chapter officials would be counter-productive ahead of election in the state. The House while congratulating Makarfi on the party's victory at the Supreme Court said it cannot feign ignorance of bickering in certain quarters of the party which could plunge the PDP into another level of crisis. The caucus said it would be a wrong step taken in the wrong direction if the "first litmus test or key assignment facing the reinforced National caretaker committee in the Anambra state gubernatorial election" is mismanaged.

The caucus letter read in parts: "That since 2003, Anambra state PDP has been running a battle over whether the PDP as a party should be privatized or solely owned by a power broker or group thereof resulting to internal wrangling, conflicts bickering, indiscipline and anti-party activities of different dimension." The caucus also warned that any move towards dissolution of the officials in the state would position the party as a privatized venture. It also warned that constituting a caretaker committee in the state would "raise dust that would not settle soon, divide the party and create an undue advantage to our adversaries". The caucus while expressing worries that it was not carried along said the decision of the Makarfi-led committee is "causing bad blood in the party".

The PDP House members further added that: "As a caucus, it is our humble call and prayer to all who love and support our great party to sheath their swords as election time is not best favourable time to actualize a dissolution and or a caretaker, but a time for forgiveness, and reconciliation, unity, re-mobilization and onward together to win the election ahead." Meanwhile following the sack of the officials, a source within the PDP said that there were jubilation in the Anambra state Government House over the news of the dissolution of the state party executive. The source said the jubilation mostly from members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has raised suspicions that the executives could have been sabotaged in favour of the incumbent governor of the state Willie Obiano who is also in the race for the governorship seat.
 "The jubilation is raising suspicions that the dissolution may have been hatched in collaboration with Anambra Government to sabotage the electoral fortunes of the PDP to favour Governor Willie Obiano."

Jonathan while speaking at the party's first meeting after the Supreme Court ruling against PDP's national chairman Ali Modu Sheriff said despite its challenges within the past 14 months, it is heart warming to know that Nigerians still trust the largest opposition party. He also called for party members to work together towrads ensuring that the PDP is strengthened to take over power from the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2019.