Factional PDP Chairman appoints his deputy

The embattled chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Modu Sheriff has appointed Cairo Ojougboh as the party’s acting deputy chairman.

This was contained in a statement signed by Sheriff and his national secretary, Wale Oladipo on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, in Abuja.

The statement reads:

"Please be informed that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in a meeting held on the 28th of June 2016, and having received nomination from the Concerned PDP stakeholders (Abuja Convention Group) and major stakeholders in the South-south has appointed you (Ojougboh) as the Acting Deputy National Chairman of the party pending the conduct of election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the erstwhile Deputy National Chairman.

"This appointment takes immediate effect.”

Sheriff urged the Ojougboh to discharge the functions of his office with dedication to ensure the progress of the party.

Until his appointment, Ojougboh was the immediate past national vice chairman of the PDP, South-south chapter and one of the officials whose removal was announced at the party's national convention held in Port Harcourt in May.

Ojougboh will replace Uche Secondus who has since identified with the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the party.

Meanwhile, 24 state chairmen of the PDPhave declared their support for Makarfi. They called on Sheriff to sheath his sword and support the caretaker chairman for the good of the party.