Supreme Court Explains Why Sheriff Was Sacked As PDP Chairman

The Supreme Court has explained why it affirmed former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Recall that the apex court had on Wednesday sacked the National Chairman of the PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff while affirming Makarfi as the new leader of the party.

A three-member panel of the court presided by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, sacked Sheriff, for demonstrating , “infantile desperation to lead the party.”

A member of the three-member panel, Rhodes Vivour, while reading out the judgment said Sheriff was not within the category of an “unimpeachable leader,” adding that his removal of the former governor was not necessarily expected to follow a vote of no confidence.

Vivour said there was no clause in the constitution of the party that made it mandatory for the former Borno State governor to be removed using a vote of no confidence.

The judge said, “He demonstrated an infantile desperation to lead the PDP by filing almost 10 different applications in various courts. They shall forever gather dust in judicial archives.”

Vivour cited relevant sections of the party’s constitution which made it imperative for members of the party to respect the proceedings of the PDP national convention.

He said, “The subject matter in the issue is Article 33; 35 and 47.

“There shall be a national convention. All members of the party shall be bound by the decisions of leaders from the National convention. Article 33 states the supremacy of the National convention.”

He said PDP constitution allows the deputy national leader of the party to stand in for his principal, adding that, “when Sheriff abandoned the national convention in May 2016, the party asked his deputy to stand in for him, making his attendance noted at the convention.”

Vivour held that although PDP’s constitution allows the party to remove the National leader after two years through a vote of no confidence, the word used to denote Vote of no confidence was ‘may’, which does not indicate compulsory adherence.

“May is not the same thing as shall,” therefore “a national officer could be removed without a vote of no confidence.

“There can be no doubt that the National convention has enormous powers over the party,” Vivour said.

By Ali Adoyi

PDP Is Back On Track, Shame On Sheriff - Fani-Kayode

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has reacted to Supreme Court ruling sacking Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Fani-Kayode in a tweet on his social media handle said “shame on Sheriff” PDP is back in the right hands.

“Praise the Lord! God has given us victory at Supreme Court. PDP is back in the right hands. Shame on Ali Modu Sheriff! Congrats to PDP!,” he wrote.

Recall that the apex court had earlier put an end to the lingering leadership crisis rocking the opposition party.

In a landmark judgment, the apex court held that Markafi remains the authentic National Chairman of PDP and consequently sacked Sheriff.

The Supreme Court also ordered Sheriff to vacate the National Secretariat of the party.

PDP has been experiencing leadership crisis since it lost the 2015 presidential election.

The crisis, however, heightened earlier in the year when an Appeal Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State affirmed Sheriff as the National Chairman of the party while sacking the Makarfi’s Caretaker Committee.

By Seun Opejobi

Supreme Court PDP Judgement: Wike Opens Up On Sheriff's Fate

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has disclosed that sacked National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff will remain in the party irrespective of Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling.

Wike claimed that the former Borno State governor “called him last week,” to assure him that he will “respect whatever decision reached by the Supreme Court.”

The Rivers State governor made the disclosure while reacting to the Supreme Court ruling which affirmed Ahmed Makarfi as the leader of the party.

Wike declared that the judgment of the Supreme Court affirming Makarfi as PDP leader is a “victory for democracy” as the nation will now have a viable opposition.

In a statement sent to DAILY POST by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, Wike urged Sheriff to keep to his word and work with other stakeholders in the interest of the party.

He noted that the PDP will emerge from the crisis stronger because all stakeholders will work hard to rebuild the party.

According to Wike, “This judgment shows that there will be opposition in Nigeria.

“I am very happy. Rivers people are very happy because we have no other party aside the PDP”.

“I urge them to keep their word. All of us will work together to re-position the party. The party will go back to the drawing board to move ahead.

“I don’t see any reason why Sheriff will not be a part of the party. He spoke to me last week that whatever the situation he will remain in the party”.

He urged the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee to meet with all stakeholders to plan the time-table for the party’s national convention.

By Seun Opejobi

We Will Win Osun West By-election - Sheriff

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has said that the party will emerge victorious in the Osun West bye-election holding this Saturday.

Sheriff, speaking to PDP supporters at a campaign rally at Apomu in Isokan Local Government Area of the state, stated that “PDP in Osun is now one.”

He added: “Today is the day that begins the transformation of the PDP, Osun state PDP are intact today and that also shows that unity has come to Osun state.

“I want this unity to continue after Adeleke’s election. I am sure my friend, Senator Iyiola Omisore will agree with me.”

Sheriff also introduced the party’s candidate, the younger brother of late Isiaka Adeleke, Ademola, urging people of the town to vote for PDP.

By Ifreke Inyang

PDP Will Be United After Supreme Court's Ruling - Sheriff

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff, ​has spoken ahead of the anticipated Supreme Court ​ruling on the leadership tussle in the ‎party.
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​He also said the recent position ​by the governors ​that they will unite irrespective of what the apex court decides ​was a welcome development and a good step.

​Sheriff, who spoke through his ​deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh​, assured that no one will be ​victimised for any role played during the conflict​ for the battle to control PDP.
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​​“We totally agree with the position of the governors. It is the Lord’s doing but from experience, we do hope that they will abide by what they have said.

​”​You know that we love the party, all of us, including the national chairman. We love the party and we will do everything possible to grow the party.

“We encourage them to abide by what they have said that it will be no victor, no vanquished and we urge them to hold tight to what they believe in, because if the ruling turns against them they should not say that they are pulling out.

“We believe that the position they have taken is the correct one and that the party is one and will reunite and grow from there.

​

”​Nobody will be punished for any role he or she might have played during the conflict in the spirit of no victor, no vanquished.

“It will now be the time for reconciliation, reconstruction and remaking the party,”​ Ojougboh ​told Thisday.

​Recall that Sheriff​ last Thursday presented the party’s flag to Ademola Adeleke, candidate for the Osun West by-election.

Ademola, brother of deceased Senator Adeleke, in his response boasted that he will win the by-election on July 8.

               

By Wale Odunsi

Appointing Sheriff Was A Major Mistake – Reps Minority Leader, Leo Ogor

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor has said the initial decision to appoint Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was a “regrettable and major mistake.”

Ogor lamented that the former Borno State Governor has done more damage than good to the party.

Responding to a question from The Sun, the lawmaker said, “Sure. It is a major mistake that we made, a very regrettable one. Sometimes it is too late to cry when the head is off. We are already in it.

“Bringing the person of (Ali-Modu) Sheriff into our system, I regret it immensely. It is a very regrettable mistake. We wouldn’t have found ourselves in this predicament.

“It is sad. Because this is somebody that was driven away from the APC and because of our open mindedness, we accepted him. Unfortunately, he has come to do what he knows how to do best.

Recall that the former ruling party has been involved in leadership tussle.

Just recently, a Port Harcourt Appeal Court affirmed Sheriff as the Chairman of the party, but the Caretaker Committee under the leadership of Ahmed Makarfi took the matter to the Supreme Court.

By Seun Opejobi