Convention: PDP chieftains turn down Sheriff’s offer to airlift them with his aircraft

– The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention is set to hold today, May 21

– The cracks in the party are still notable despite last minute efforts by the chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff to reconcile aggrieved members

– Fire works are expected at the convention holding at Port Harcourt, Rivers state

Ahead of the PDP convention in Port Harcourt today, May 21, some chieftains of the party turned down an aircraft sent to them by the party’s national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, to convey them from Abuja to Rivers state.

According to The Punch,  the plane was sent to the party chieftains who are mostly against Sheriff returning back as the chairman of the party.

The chieftains under the name Concerned PDP Stakeholders, are holding their convention today at Area 11, Abuja, after the Sheriff group refused its recommendations.

The group is led by former information minister, Professor Jery Gana; with notable members like former deputy senate president; Ibrahim Mantu and media guru, Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

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A serving governor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that an aircraft was sent to Abuja on Friday evening to convey the group.

“We have been talking, in fact we told them that we were ready to abandon Sheriff and that they should come to Port Harcourt for final discussion.

“We sent an aircraft to them, hoping that they would board and come here for final discussion. We were ready to share offices with them. But they refused to turn up,” he said.

But a former minister in the Professor group, said members of the group do not trust the governors.

“We didn’t board their aircraft because we didn’t trust them. They ignored us, they said we didn’t have money to run the party and now they were sending aircraft to us at the last minute. We don’t need it,” he informed.

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Meanwhile, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, chairman of the the national convention of the PDP insists the party’s convention billed for Port Harcourt will still go ahead as planned.

Governor Wike, in the company of governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Dave Umahi, Ebonyi state and former governor of Akwa Ibom and current minority leader of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, while addressing newsmen said the PDP was quick to make the decision barring any court ruling which may stop the national convention.

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