Staff of the PDP numbering 127 have refused to comply with a call by the party’s embattled national chairman, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, who directed them to resume work at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Sheriff had last week resumed work at the Wadata Plaza and called on all members of staff, who are currently with the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, to join him following the appeal court judgement which favoured him.

But addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, the Director of Administration in the secretariat, Alhaji Gurama Bawa, who spoke on behalf of the 127 staff, said ‎they will not resume work on grounds that their lives were in danger.

‎He said when Sheriff resumed duty, they were taken aback to find out that the judgement of the appeal court was being implemented in the breach.

‎”Members of staff are desirous of resuming work after having been made victim of problems they never caused but are concerned about their safety.

“Following the judgment validating the National Convention by FHC in Port Harcourt, members of staff were requested to resume duty in May/June, 2016. They did so. In the few days we reported for work, we were harassed and intimidated by demonstrators and protesters.

“We were violently chased out of the offices; many had to run away leaving their personal belongings which we understand have now been vandalized by unknown persons.

“With the recent appeal to the Supreme Court by the Makarfi leadership, the Board of Trustees has written a strong protest letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) against the re-opening of the secretariat to avoid breakdown of law and order, a situation which again highlights the danger that staff will be exposed to if they resume duty as directed,” the staff said.