Chairman of the national caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has called on his rival, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his followers, to accept Monday’s judgment by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt and join the committee in moving the party forward.
The court, in a ruling delivered by Justice Abdullahi Liman, upheld the May 21, 2016 decision of the national convention of the PDP, which removed Mr. Sheriff and constituted the Makarfi-led caretaker committee.
Justice Liman also declared that the appointment of the caretaker committee to oversee the party’s affairs was legal and in line with the provisions of the PDP Constitution.
Sheriff, in his immediate reaction to the ruling, vowed to remain in office, stressing that three other judgments by courts of coordinate jurisdiction conferred legality on his position as national chairman.
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He also said his lawyers have been directed to file an appeal as well as an order for a stay of execution of the judgment by Justice Liman.
Reacting to the judgment, Makarfi expressed joy but decried the fact that the leadership dispute between him and Sheriff had to end up in court.
“I am indeed happy with the judgment on the one hand but also sad that it had to come to this. For me, there should be no winner or loser in this matter.
“I am still calling on Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and his followers to join us so that we accommodate one another and indeed all other groups in a just, fair and equitable manner, with a view to moving the party forward”, Mr. Makarfi said.
