The Peoples Democratic Party Governors ’ Forum said it had resolved to adopt political, rather than legal approach, to seek a lasting solution to the party ’ s leadership crisis .
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ekiti state , Mr Ayodele Fayose , disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the forum meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja , late Tuesday night .
Fayose said that the meeting was at the instance of Jonathan , adding that all interests in the party would be represented in the search for the needed solution to the impasse.
“ He , Jonathan , is genuinely concerned about what is going on in the party , and he thought that an interactive session with the governors will go a long way to dousing tension .
“ We know that there are so many matters before the court but we believe that a political solution will go a long way to solve this matter .
“ If we believe in this party , we will all be willing and ready to pursue a political solution , which at the end of the day every interest will be well represented . That is the position of this meeting , ” he said .
According to him , irrespective of the matters before the court , a political solution is the best .
Fayose assured all PDP supporters that the governors believed in the party as well in its success , and urged members and the supporters to refrain from making comments that could compound the party ’ s crisis .
He said , “ We want to appeal to everybody to be wary of making statements that could further worsen the situation; we should make complimentary statements that can enhance the party the more . ”
He explained that engaging the National Chairman of the party , Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff , was part of the political approaches to be adopted in resolving the problems .
In attendance of the meeting were governors of Ekiti , Akwa Ibom , Delta , Taraba , Cross River , Abia , Ebonyi , Gombe and Bayelsa . Rivers was represented by the deputy governor .
The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt had on Feb . 17 affirmed Sheriff as the national chairman of the party against a resolution of May 2016 national convention that sacked the party ’ s National Working Committee ( NWC ).
In place of the NWC and National Executive Committee of the party , the convention constituted a National Caretaker Committee headed by Sen . Ahmed Makarfi to manage the party and organise an elective national convention .
But , Sheriff challenged the development in court and got a judgment affirming him as chairman .
The national caretaker committee , the PDP Governors ’ Forum and elders , including the Board of Trustees ( BoT ) , flayed the judgment of the court and have appealed to Supreme Court .
( NAN)
