By Festus Ahon

ASABA—FACTIONAL National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, yesterday, said he did not impose himself in office, saying he was begged by governors, senators and other party chieftains to lead the party.

Speaking at an interactive session with party chieftains from the South-South in Agbor, Delta State, Sheriff affirmed that he remained pivotal to the resolution of the crisis in the party as no national convention can be held without his approval.

The interactive session earlier scheduled to hold in Asaba was moved to Agbor in the last minute following the sealing off of the popular Asaba hotel that was earlier slated as venue.

Alimodu-Sheriff

Among party chieftains present at the interactive session were the factional deputy national chairman, Dr. Cairo Ojugboh, Dr. Mariam Ali, a member of the Board of Trustees, and other party chieftains from the South-South.

The meeting followed earlier zonal interactive sessions for the North-Central and South-West.

Speaking at the interactive session, Sheriff said he agreed to serve after much persuasion by some PDP governors, senators and other leaders of the party.

Saying that he was out to reposition the PDP, Sheriff said he was determined to return the party to the grassroots, where ownership of the party, according to him, truly belongs, adding that the era of impunity was over.

He said the Port Harcourt national convention was put off due to court order, adding that a caretaker committee which was set up after the convention was aborted, as was alien  to the constitution of the party.

In his remarks, factional chairman of the party in Delta State, Chief Austin Ogbaburhon, said the hosting of the town hall meeting in the state would raise the hope of members of the party in the state.

Mrs Marian Ali, wife  of former national chairman of the party,  Col. Ahmadu   Ali (retd.) who also spoke at the meeting,   said the gathering was the celebration of love , adding that Sheriff has displayed great love for the party.

Ali who is a member of the party’s Board of Trustee, BoT, held that nothing would make them go back in their support for  Sheriff.

Sherriff who addressed a mammoth crowd of the party delegates at the town hall meeting, said he has the mandate of the people to lead the party saying that he was not the kind of person to be pushed around by those who think they own the party.

Expressing hope that the PDP would form the national government in 2019, he held that the people would be made to pick those that would fly the party’s flag at general elections.

Sheriff said that the PDP turned from having 29 Governors at a time to having only 16 Governors mainly due to impunity as he insisted that he would preside over the national convention of the party whenever it is held.

In his remarks, factional chairman of the party in Delta State, Chief Austin Ogbaburhon said the hosting of the town hall meeting in the state would raise the hope of members of the party in the state.

Ogbaburhon pledged  the loyalty of the party in the state to the Sheriff executive, adding that they would remain resolute in their support for him.

Mrs Marian Ali, wife  of former national chairman of the party,  Col. Ahmadu   Ali (rtd.) who also spoke at the meeting,   said the gathering was the celebration of love , adding that Sheriff has displayed great love for the party.

Ali who is a member of the party’s Board of Trustee, BoT, held that nothing would make them go back in their support for  Sheriff.