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Ahmed Makarfi

 Peace appears to have returned to the fold of the nation’s major opposition party – the Peoples Democratic Party. The party has for long been locked in a war of attrition leading to the emergences of about three contending factions. However, series of conciliatory moves by several personalities within the party yielded fruits Tuesday morning, as the immediate past Deputy National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus handed over the reins of the party leadership to Senator Ahmed Makarfi. The former governor of Kaduna State who will serve as care taker chairman will hold forte until a substantive national convention is held to elect a new set of leaders for the party.

The handing over ceremony was alone inside the conference hall of the PDP national secretariat popularly known as Wadata Plaza. It was witnessed by members of the party’s Board of Trustees as well as other high ranking executives. The PDP secretariat was sealed up by law enforcement agents for days until last weekend when it became clear that sanity had returned to the party.

The hitherto contending factions including the Concerned Stakeholders Group led by Prof. Jerry Gana have thrown their weight behind Makarfi excepting those still loyal to the deposed Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. The former governor of Borno State’s going glaring absence at preceding meeting on Monday at the Ondo State Governor’s lodge in Abuja is still seen as an issue by some observers. As at Monday night supporters of Sheriff who was remove from office at the May 21, Port Harcourt Convention were still adamant on their resolve to have their man cling on to the office. Many of them told the press that Sheriff remained the officially – recognised Chairman of the party. “He will pursue the court case seeking to challenge his illegal removal to its logical conclusion” they said.

However, a powerful clique within the PDP namely the PDP Governors Forum which has the likes of the Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State have given their nod to Makarfi’s emergence. Other party big wigs like Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Olabode George and Ebenezer Babatope have equally aligned within the choice of the new leader who is widely seen as a loyal party man and highly influential politician.

Moments after he formally took office, Makarfi spoke of his commitment to bring the crisis rocking the party to an end. He said that he would personally work towards reconciling the various aggrieved members of the party including the immediate past Chairman Ali Modu Sherriff.