Court recognises Makarfi as PDP national chairman

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday recognised Sen. Ahmed Makarfi as the National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Muhammad Liman in his judgment said that the National Convention of the PDP held in Port Harcourt was lawfully conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution and guideline.

Liman said that the Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff’s led executive was lawfully dissolved during the national convention held in Port Harcourt.

The national leadership of the PDP and the Board of Trustees had filed a motion before the court, seeking the recognition of the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi`s led Caretaker Committee.

The motion also prayed the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff`s faction of the party.

The Sheriff-led faction of the PDP also filed two motions, praying the court to declare the faction the authentic leadership of the party.

The Sheriff faction also asked the court to declare as ”null and void and of no effect,” the May 21 National Convention of the party held in Port Harcourt.

However, Sheriff has said he remained in charge until Court of Appeal’s decision on the position.

Sheriff made this known on Monday in Abuja while reacting to the judgment.

He told newsmen that he had instructed his lawyers to appeal the Port Harcourt judgement and to seek a stay-of- execution of the judgment.

“The court where the judge gave judgement in Abuja last week and the Federal High Court in Lagos and today’s court in Port Harcourt are all courts of the same competent jurisdiction.

“Therefore, the orders that we have in Abuja is still subsisting. What it means is that unless a Court of Appeal decides otherwise, I still remain the national chairman of the PDP.

“Courts that are of the same jurisdiction cannot overrule another court unless it is Court of Appeal. We disagree with today’s judgement completely.

“We have asked our lawyers immediately to file an appeal and also ask the same court for stay of execution, because there were three orders before this, which are of the same coordinate jurisdiction.

“ Unless and until Court of Appeal, which is a higher court, makes a pronouncement contrary to what we have, I still remain the chairman,’’ Sheriff said.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has hailed the judgment of a Federal High Court, sitting in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, which affirmed the appointment of the Senator Ahmed Markafi led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying “the judgment has resolved all issues concerning the leadership of the PDP and all genuine lovers of the party must now sheath their swords and support the National Caretaker Committee in the overall interest of the party.”

Governor Fayose, who reacted to the judgment through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the Port-Harcourt Federal High Court judgment has put paid to the antics of those who wished that the PDP is disorganised so as to silent opposition permanently and continue with their draconian rule unchallenged.

The governor called on all gladiators in the party leadership crisis, which the court has now resolved to put the crisis behind them and allow the party to move forward.

“I am happy that the court has finally put to rest all issues concerning the leadership of the PDP because the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt judgment, which affirmed the Port-Harcourt National Convention that dissolved the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff led National Working Committee and constituted the Senator Ahmed Markafi led National Caretaker Committee is a declarative judgment and not an interim order or interlocutory injunction.

“The judgment goes to the root of the crisis and since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies themselves were categorical in their position that today’s judgment will form the basis of their position on the PDP leadership issue, it should be clear to all that it is only the National Caretaker Committee that can be related with by anyone.

“However, since it is a family affair where there should be no victor and no loser, all genuine lover of the PDP must put the past behind them and support the National Caretaker Committee so as to return the party’s lost glories,” the governor said.

(c)Dailytimes