Chairman Caretaker of Committee of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to disregard the letter by the factional chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff urging the commission not to recognize the party’s convention slated for Port Harcourt on August 17.
This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by spokesman of the faction, Prince Dayo Adeyeye which states that Sheriff’s letter to INEC was not only meant to scuttle the convention but to destroy the party.
“The latest attempt by the former National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his cohorts is not only to scuttle the forthcoming National Convention but also another clear evidence of his determination to destroy the PDP. The law and the facts are as follows:
“The ruling of Justice Okon Abang which Ali Modu Sheriff is relyinga on is a mere narrative of the Case before the Federal High Courts in Lagos and in Port Harcourt Divisions. It does not set aside or nullified the Judgment of Justice Liman which has authenticated the May 21st National Convention and the Resolutions emanating there from.
“The ruling did not anywhere direct INEC to do anything or not to do anything, to discharge or not to discharge any obligation; to perform any function or not to perform any function. In essence, it is a mere legal tale and the Order having been made without any application before him by either of the Parties has no foundation in law.
“Hon. Justice Valerie Arshi had in a Judgment nullified the appointment of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as Chairman of the Party. That Judgment has not been set aside. It is still valid and subsisting. And no Court of Coordinate Jurisdiction including the Federal High Court can make any other Order with the intention of rendering that Judgment ineffective.
“The National Convention which held in Port Harcourt on May 21st 2016 which resolutions were confirmed by Justice Liman of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt on July 4, 2016 dissolved the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Working Committee (NWC) and affirmed the National Caretaker Committee as the Supreme body to run the affairs of the Party until another Convention was held within 90 days.
“That being the case, it was therefore the last Convention that in fact convened the forthcoming one slated for August 17, 2016, and not the National Caretaker Committee parse. The National Convention is superior to all other Organs of the Party.
“We call on INEC to disregard the letter from the former National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his cohorts. It belongs to the garbage bin. He is merely acting the script of his paymasters. The Caretaker Committee will continue with its dogged determination to organize the best National Convention in the history of our great Party,” the statement reads.
