In a statement released by the Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic media, Simeon Nwakaudu, The Chairman of the 2016 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Convention Planning Committee and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has explained that the party had to let Former Acting National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff go because his leadership was destabilising the party.
In an interview on Saturday night after the 2016 National Convention in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said: "All along, the crisis has been about the former acting chairman whose emergence was strongly opposed.
"This is destabilising the party and so we had to let him go. What is important is the party and not the individual. No sacrifice is too much for anyone to make as far as PDP is concerned ".
He noted that he had no personal interest in supporting Senator Modu Sheriff as he was the best option at the time he emerged.
He said that PDP will continue to grow from strength to strength as it remains the only hope for the country.
Governor Wike said: "We will not allow the PDP to die or suffer divisions under our watch. History will never forgive us if we watch the party die."
The governor said that the party leaders would work towards maintaining unity amongst all members of the party.
He said despite the challenges, the 2016 National Convention was successful as the party has been repositioned in the interest of the nation.