The factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Modu-Sheriff, said he was ready to return to negotiating table with the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction.
He, however, stressed that the Makarfi-faction must be willing to make peace for that to happen.
Mr. Sheriff stated this when he received some members of the PDP in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who paid him solidarity visit on Wednesday in Abuja.
Mr. Sheriff said he had on several occasions tried to resolve the party crisis with the Makarfi faction.
He said he suggested that both the Caretaker Committee and his National Working Committee be dissolved, to give way for a new independent leadership.
“I have made several peace moves but the caretaker committee has refused to agree.
“We have therefore resigned our fate to the decision of their Lordships of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Courts.
“However, we are ready to return to the negotiation table today, if Sen. Makarfi sees reason to do so,’’ he said.
Mr. Sheriff said he was committed to returning the party to the grassroots in spite of the “several blackmail” he had been receiving.
“Our task is to return the party to the grassroots.
“To this end, we shall continue to review all the states chapters that are affected before the Convention.
“We are discussing with key stakeholders willing to return to the party and we are making steady progress,” he said.
Mr. Sheriff added that if the talks would yield positive result, the party would hold its national convention in the first quarter of 2017 to elect new leaders.
“Hopefully, we shall conduct a free and fair convention in the first quarter of 2017.
“In the cause of the last six months, we have worked assiduously to reposition our great party, the PDP, through harnessing of the enormous potential of the party at the grassroots.
