Kwara PDP distances self from Sheriff

The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has dissociated itself from the proposed unity convention of the party under the chairmanship of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff.

A factional chairman of the party in the state, Chief Iyiola Akogun, disclosed this in a chat with our correspondent in Ilorin.

Akogun stressed that he and his supporters in the state had always been loyal to the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee.

The Kwara State chapter of the PDP had been torn between Akogun’s supporters and the faction loyal to Prince Sunday Fagbemi, with both laying claim to being the authentic executive and pledging loyalty to the Makarfi-led caretaker committee.

Akogun, however, decried the alleged inclusion of his name and signature as one of the 23 PDP state chairmen, who allegedly endorsed the proposed unity convention.

He added that he never attended any meeting where such an issue was discussed. Akogun said, “As the state Chairman of the party, I led Kwara delegates to the May 21 aborted convention, which later produced the National Caretaker Committee under Makarfi. I also led Kwara delegates to the second Portharcourt aborted convention convened by Makarfi on August 17, 2016.

“There are documents to that effect that can be exhibited. I have been attending many meetings with Makarfi since then and none with sheriff.

My name was fraudulently forged into that document like that of some others such as the Niger State PDP chairman.

“Appropriate action will certainly follow. For the avoidance of doubts, I queue behind Makarfi.

I do not have a history of party or forum shopping, as our detractors will want people to believe about me. For me, politics is a serious business and should be for the principled.”