Police barricade venue of Makarfi's PDP faction meeting in Abuja

 Police on Monday barricaded the premises of the International Conference Centre in Abuja, where the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had scheduled a stakeholders meeting, Saharareporters reports.

PDP publicity secretary Dayo Adeyeye confirmed that the venue was barricaded by police, preventing the faction from holding its meeting that had been scheduled for 2 p.m.

Participants of the meeting were subsequently forced to relocate to the Ekiti State Government Lodge.

The meeting was called by the Makarfi faction in response to Friday’s court ruling that confirmed former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff as PDP Chairman. Factions led by Mr. Sheriff and Mr. Makarfi had struggled over leadership of the party, with each side contesting that their factional leader was the authentic PDP chairman.

According to the New Telegraph, the Makarfi faction alleged that Mr. Sheriff was behind the barricade and accused him of working with the rival All Progressives Congress (APC).