NAN-H-27
Meeting
By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, June 12, 2017 (NAN) The Moshood Salvador-led faction of the Lagos State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday held a crucial closed-door meeting on the way forward ahead of the July 22 council polls.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the meeting was a follow -up to the series of meetings the faction had held in recent weeks on the way forward.
Key members of the faction gathered at the Eric Moore Towers in Surulere for the meeting on Monday afternoon and shelved a planned press conference on its outcome after it dragged on for hours.
The faction had planned to disclose its next line of action following the decision of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC)to recognise Mr Segun Adewale as PDP chairman in Lagos ahead of the council poll.
Adewale is aligned to the Ali-Modu Sherif national leadership while Salvador belongs to the former governor Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the party.
The Appeal Court had ruled that Sheriff remained the chairman while Makarfi’s committee ‘s challenge of the verdict is awaiting determination at the Supreme Court.
The national leadership tussle had created division at the state ‘s chapter and both Salvador and Adewale factions had failed in their efforts to unite ahead of the poll.
Mr Taofik Gani, Publicity Secretary of the Salvador faction, had earlier told NAN that an alternative platform for the camp’s aspirants was inevitable as a result of lack of consensus between it and the other group ahead of the polls.
Gani said the this would ensure that their group’s candidates, who he said were popular in their various areas, were not denied participation at the polls.
He had said the platform arrangement would be a temporary one pending the resolution of the party ‘s leadership tussle at the apex court .
“We do not want our candidates to be left out in the polls due to the legal issues in the party at the national level and that is why we will seek an alternative platform for them to contest.
“We are looking at a particular political party that is also strong in the state. We will be calling a press conference in the coming days to reveal the details of the arrangement.
“But it must be noted that it is a temporary arrangement and that it does not mean we are leaving the party. It is just done to enable our candidates participate while awaiting Supreme Court judgement, “he said.
Adewale had opposed the idea of an alternative platform, saying it would weaken the party’s participation at the polls.
NAN reports that LASIEC has fixed July 22 for the polls and July 29 for run-off. (NAN)
BHB/SOA
Edited by Oluwole Sogunle