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Tag: Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff

  • Sheriff rejects another judgment sacking him as PDP chair

    Sheriff rejects another judgment sacking him as PDP chair

    Disputed National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has rejected a court judgment sacking him as party chairman.

    A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Kubwa, Abuja, had on Wednesday nullified his hold on the party’s chairmanship and declared his appointment as party chair null and void.

    But in a statement on Thursday, Sheriff said the judgment did not affect him in any way. He however said he had already appealed the judgment and filed for a stay of execution.

    The judgment of the Kubwa court, delivered by Justice Nwamaka Ogbonnaya was an affirmation of an earlier one delivered by Justice Valentine Ashi of another FCT high court on June 29, 2016.

    Justice Ashi had ruled that the purported amendment to Article 47(6) of the PDP Constitution of 2012 at a special National Convention of the party held on Wednesday, 10-11 July, 2014 was unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.

    Justice Ashi further ruled that the said amendment failed to comply with mandatory due process as provided in Article 66(2) and (3) of the party’s constitution.

    Sheriff became chairman by virtue of the said Article 47(6) which the court nullified.

    The judge had said, “By reason of the above, the purported amendment introduced in article 47 (6) on the aforesaid dates are hereby set aside.

    “All persons or individuals, officers, servants and agents of the PDP parading themselves as national officers of the PDP, purportedly pursuant to the said amendment which has now been nullified are hereby restrained from further parading themselves around in those capacities and claiming the rights and privileges attached or appurtenant thereto”.

    But, Sheriff’s deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh who spoke on behalf of the disputed chairman, said, “When you are too much in a hurry to kill your enemy, sometimes you kill yourself. Some persons went to justice Valentine Ashi and Sheriff was not party to the case. Justice Ashi gave judgement based on what was placed before him.

    “Sheriff was not a party to it and we have appealed it and asked for stay of execution. In that ruling, Justice Ashi annulled the amendment to the 2014 PDP Constitution.

    “In annulling it, we go back to 2012 Constitution. In that Constitution, it is stated that when an NWC member leaves his office by virtue of death or anything, somebody from that particular zone will be nominated and appointed to complete his tenure and continue in office until the next convention. That is what happened.

    “The court annulled the 2014 Constitution as amended; it does not affect Sheriff in any way. He will now stand on the 2012 Constitution. We have taken it back to the court in an appeal.”

  • Decisions taken by PDP illegal, says Sheriff

    Decisions taken by PDP illegal, says Sheriff

    The disputed National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has rejected the decisions taken by the party its botched national convention in Port Harcourt.

    According to him, the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting purportedly convened in Port Harcourt on Wednesday where the decisions were taken was null and void.

    In a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, Sheriff said, “The said meeting breached Section 31(4) of the PDP constitution.

    “The Section provides that it’s only the National Chairman who can convene a NEC meeting after giving two weeks’ notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “Even in an emergency situation, one week notice must be given to the National Chairman who has the sole responsibility to convene the NEC.

    “It is sad that in the face of obvious disregard to court orders which halted the convention, some individuals are bent on perpetrating impunity by taking steps to install another contraption on the PDP.”

    Sheriff insisted that the rule of law and constitutionality must prevail in all circumstances, saying the decisions taken by the party in Port Harcourt would not be binding on members and cannot stand in law.

  • Sheriff faults ruling on PDP convention

    Sheriff faults ruling on PDP convention

    . . . Threatens to report Judge to NJC

     

    The disputed National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has faulted Monday’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt that gave the party the go ahead to hold its convention.

    Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Sheriff accused the presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Watila of bias and vowed to report him to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appropriate action.

    According to him, the ruling was a hoax, because Justice Watila ought not to sit over the case, as the courts are presently on vacation.

    He expressed shock at the ruling of the court.

    He argued that Justice Watila converted an ex parte motion to an interlocutory order in the case filed against him by the Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee of the PDP.

    Sheriff also accused the Port Harcourt judge of asking workers at the court registry to abandon their duties post, so as to frustrate his legal representatives at the trial.

    Sheriff said, “Some judges in the Federal High Court are destroying Nigeria and they should be removed. In a situation where judges are compromised, whatever they do is illegal.

    “I call on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the President of the Federal Hight Court and the NJC to probe the judge in Port Harcourt because he is available to be used.”

    Based on the ruling by the Port Harcourt court, the caretaker committee has announced its readiness to proceed with tomorrow’s convention in Port Harcourt.

    But Sheriff said he would not recognise the outcome of the convention and vowed to pursue his case against the party until justice is done.

    He said; “If the convention is moved to Abuja, I will be ready to resign as chairman. Nobody should be allowed to take over the PDP

    “I will not recognise any of these gatherings. I will pursue the rule of law until justice is done. This party is for Nigerians. I am ready today, tomorrow if justice will be done, if the convention will hold in Abuja.

    “People are allowed to choose who they want as leaders; I will be prepared to hand over to that person. But unless and until we do that I have the right to remain the chairman.

    “I have been elected by the NEC for specific period of time. That period will not finish until 2018. But I’m ready to go tomorrow. But let this party not be taken over by one person. We cannot allow it.”

     

  • PDP crisis: Makarfi faults Sheriff’s position on convention

    PDP crisis: Makarfi faults Sheriff’s position on convention

    The chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi has faulted the position of the party’s ousted national chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff on the party’s proposed national convention.

    Sheriff had on Wednesday, written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking to stop the convention, billed to hold in Port Harcourt on August 17.

    Sheriff had cited restraining a court order stating that the Makarfi committee cannot take actions on behalf of the PDP and that going ahead with the convention would amount to contempt of the said court order.

    But in swift reaction Wednesday, the Makarfi committee accused Sheriff and his group of attempts to scuttle the planned convention and also to destroy the party as well.

    The reaction, contained in a statement by the spokesperson of the caretaker committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, stated that the ruling by Justice Okon Abang which Sheriff relied upon was a mere narrative of the case pending before the Federal High Courts in the Lagos and Port Harcourt Divisions.

    Adeyeye said, “It (ruling) did not set aside or nullify the judgment of Justice Liman which has authenticated the May 21 National Convention and the resolutions emanating therefrom.

    “The said 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”.

    Justice Valerie Arshi had in another judgment, nullified the appointment of Sheriff as National Chairman of the parry.

    “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,” Adeyeye added.

    According to the Makarfi committee, the resolutions of the national convention which held in Port Harcourt on May 21, were confirmed by Justice Liman of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on July 4, 2016.

    Part of the resolutions was the dissolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Sheriff led National Working Committee (NWC).

    The resolution also affirmed the Makarfi led Caretaker Committee as the supreme body to run the affairs of the party until another pending the conduct of another convention 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 Makarfi committee said.

  • PDP crisis: Sheriff lists conditions for truce

    PDP crisis: Sheriff lists conditions for truce

    The factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has called for the dissolution of the Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee as a condition for reconciliation.

    Sheriff said that was the demand he tabled at a meeting last week with Makarfi and two governors from the Northeast geopolitical zone.

    At a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, Sheriff said he had made it clear with the governors- Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) that the caretaker committee was an aberration to the PDP constitution.

    The embattled party chairman made the declaration while receiving a delegation of PDP supporters from 17 local government areas in Abia state who paid him a solidarity visit.

    He also asked to be allowed to nominate 10 members into the convention committee, with Makarfi also nominating 10 members.

    The proposed convention is billed to hold in Port Harcourt on August 17. But Sheriff said the convention should hold in Abuja.

    Sheriff dismissed claims that he was the problem with the PDP, saying that the crisis in the party was being fueled by some persons who regard the PDP as their personal property.

    He vowed to resist such persons, saying there will be no room for them to operate as long as he remained chairman.

    Sheriff said, “People are very interested in our party and how the crisis will be settled. Before the Port Harcourt convention which was aborted by a court order.

    “Yes, we met and issues were discussed but all the issues I put forward to them was for the Makarfi caretaker committee to resign.

    “Since it is (committee) an aberration as far as our party constitution is concern. I told them that I am not ready to be a permanent chairman but I want the party to be placed in proper stead.

    “If he resigns tomorrow, I will ask the members of my National Working Committee (NWC) whose tenure will expire in 2018, including myself to resign.

    “Then we will set up a convention committee in Abuja and put respected members and leader at the wards as members of the committee.

    “In that convention, I will give away my mandate that does not expire until 2018 and I remain the national chairman of this party until 2018.

    “If the leaders of our party felt that we can find a solution without exhausting the pending court processes, then I am open to a political solution.

    “There is nothing like what has been reported. If you do not stand on the truth, the end result will be a serious distraction.

    The leader of the Abia delegation, Mr. Chidi Nwosu called on Sheriff to look into the flawed congresses in Abia with the view to correcting the anomalies.

    Nwosu said the congresses were conducted by a few powerful men who sat in their rooms and hotel accommodations where they picked the delegates.

  • Again, Makarfi, Sheriff disagree on court’s ruling

    Again, Makarfi, Sheriff disagree on court’s ruling

    Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi and his rival PDP chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff have again disagreed on the latest court ruling in the party’s festering crisis.

    A High Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, had, on Monday, affirmed the Makarfi led caretaker committee as the authentic leader of the troubled party.

    The court also affirmed the decision of the party sacking Sheriff as national chairman of the PDP and other former National Working Committee (NWC) members by the national convention in Port Harcourt.

    In a statement in Abuja Monday, Makarfi expressed satisfaction with the judgment, regretting however that the crisis in the party had been taken this far.

    He said; “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 on this matter. I am still calling on Senator 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,” Makarfi added.
    But in a swift reaction shortly after the judgment, Sheriff said the ruling by the Port Harcourt court cannot vitiate an earlier judgment delivered by an Abuja High Court which recognised him as the national chairman of the PDP.

    The ‎former Borno state Governor insisted that he remains the party’s national chairman, despite the ruling of the court.

    At a media briefing in Abuja Monday, Sheriff said he had already asked his lawyers to file a stay of execution against the ruling of the Port Harcourt court, adding that appeal process had also been initiated.

    He argued that both the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt and the court in Abuja that affirmed his chairmanship of the party are of coordinate jurisdiction.

    “I also want you to know that the court that gave judgment in Abuja High Court last week and the Federal High Court in Lagos, and today’s (Monday’s) judgment are all courts of same coordinate jurisdiction.

    “Therefore the order we have in Abuja is still subsisting. What it means is that unless the Court of Appeal decides otherwise, I still remain the national chairman of the PDP.
    ‎
    “Any court that is of the same jurisdiction cannot overrule another court, only the Court of Appeal can do that.

    “We disagree completely with today’s judgment. We have asked our lawyers to immediately file an appeal, and we have also asked the same court to stay execution on the judgment.”

     

  • Sheriff appoints Ojougboh as deputy PDP chairman

    The factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, has appointed the party’s former Vice Chairman (South-South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh as the faction’s Deputy National Chairman.

    This came just as another set of “chairmen” of state chapters of PDP endorsed Sheriff as the party’s “authentic” National Chairman.

    Ojougboh was one of the party’s mainstream national officials that were removed at the party’s May 21 botched convention in Port Harcourt.

    Ojougboh’s letter of appointment was jointly signed by Sheriff and the faction’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo.

    The letter reads, “Please, be informed that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in a meeting held on the 28th of June 2016, and having received nomination from the Concerned PDP stakeholders (Abuja Convention Group) and major stakeholders in the South-south has appointed you as the Acting Deputy National Chairman of the party pending the conduct of election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the erstwhile Deputy National Chairman. This appointment takes immediate effect”.

    Sheriff and Oladipo, through the letter, urged Ojougboh to discharge his functions with dedication to ensure the progress of the party.

     

  • Fayose’s conduct shameful, says Sheriff

    Fayose’s conduct shameful, says Sheriff

    . . .I ‘m in charge of PDP’s bank accounts

    Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, has described the public conduct of Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose as shameful.

    Sheriff was responding to statements by Fayose to the effect that he was removed as chairman because he was scheming for the 2019 presidential ticket of the PDP and was also baiting some party chieftains with the vice presidential ticket.

    But at a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, Sheriff said, “I am ashamed at the way and manner Fayose is conducting himself in the country. I was once a governor so I know that the position of governor is a very serious one that demands responsible behaviour”.

    He denied scheming for the party’s presidential ticket, saying “I never told anybody I wanted to run for president and I did not promise anybody the vice presidential ticket. I have decided not to join issues with Fayose”.

    To buttress his claim to the chairmanship of the party, Sheriff said the National Working Committee (NWC) under him is in charge of the bank accounts of the PDP, to the exclusion of the Makarfi led caretaker committee.

    “Myself and the Treasurer who is also a member of the NWC are signatories to the bank accounts of the PDP. Makarfi may also open another account in the name of his caretaker committee if he wished”, Sheriff said.

    The former Borno state Governor said he had forgiven Makarfi and his committee members for their failed attempt to take over the party and invited them to rejoin the PDP under his leadership.

    Said he, “There is only one PDP, which is the one under my leadership. Anyone who thinks that the Makarfi contraption can work is deceiving himself. I am the only chairman of the PDP recognised by the courts, the constitution and the Electoral Act.

    “I became chairman because the PDP chose me to lead the party. So I won’t sit by and watch some people mess up the party. I am here to correct what had gone wrong with state congresses conducted by the party”.

    Sheriff then went ahead to inaugurate a separate committee to conduct fresh primaries to pick a candidate for the party in the upcoming Edo state governorship election.

    He named a serving senator, Hope Uzodinma as chairman of the committee and a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak as secretary.

    According to him, three aspirants had already obtained nomination forms for a fee of N10 million each, saying that the money had been deposited in the party’s bank account.

    Sheriff announced that he would soon convene the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to ratify the candidature of the winner of the Edo primary election to be conducted by the Uzodinma committee.

    “After that, we will forward the name of our governorship candidate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the July 10 deadline set by the commission for the submission of candidates”, he said.

    He declared as “null and void” the primary election conducted by the Makarfi committee, and which produced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the governorship candidate of the party for Edo state.

    Sheriff dismissed as false, claims by the Makarfi committee that INEC monitored the Edo governorship primary election it conducted, saying the commission had debunked the claim.

    Party chieftains that identified with Sheriff as chairman and who were present at the event were Uzodinma, Gulak, Senator Buruji Kashamu and Mrs. Mariam Ali.

    Others are former Imo state Governor, Ikedi Ohakim; former PDP vice chairman (South-South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; PDP Southwest zonal chairman, Makanjuola Ogundipe; a former Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Kasim Gbolarunmi; Senator Saidu Kumo; Mrs. Esther Audu.

    Also at the event were Prof. Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju who are still laying claim to the positions of National Secretary and National Auditor respectively.

  • Sheriff declares Edo PDP gov primaries illegal

    Sheriff declares Edo PDP gov primaries illegal

    The embattled National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali modu Sheriff has declared the party’s governorship primaries in Edo state illegal.

    The primaries, which were held by the Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee on Monday has been voided by Sheriff, saying the exercise was a contraption by an illegal care-taker committee.

    He has called on party members in the state to disregard the exercise.

    This was contained in a letter addressed to the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), signed by Sheriff and the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo.

    The duo urged INEC not to confer legitimacy on the Edo primaries, saying the party would conduct a proper exercise to nominate a candidate.

    Consequently, Sheriff has released a scheduled congress in the state to start from June 23rd-June 29th with the inauguration of a congress committee scheduled for Thursday.

    Sheriff warned state chapter chairmen and other officers of the party to desist from holding meetings with the Makarfi committee, stressing that such actions would attract sanctions.

    Sheriff has announced the appointment of some expired deputy national officers as members of the National Working Committee (NWC) in acting capacity.

    The appointments were meant to fill five vacancies created by the resignation of some NWC members, saying the appointments were in accordance with  the provisions of Sections 39(2), 42 (2), 43 (2), 44 (2) and 47 (6) of the party’s constitution.

    The newly appointed officers are Mr. Okey  Nnadozie – Acting National Organizing Secretary; Mr. Alonge-Niyi Dennis –Acting National Youth Leader; Mrs. Hannatu Ullam –Acting National Women Leader; and Mr. Bashir Maidugu –Acting National Legal Adviser.

    The appointments, he said, take immediate effect.

  • PDP secretariat protest shameful – Sheriff

    PDP secretariat protest shameful – Sheriff

    The embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, has condemned Wednesday’s protest at the party secretariat, describing it as a “shameful act of hooliganism and brigandage.”

    In a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mr. Inuwa Bwala shortly after the protest, Sheriff accused the Ahmed Makarfi -led Caretaker Committee of sponsoring the protest to undermine his leadership.

    He described the action as a sad reminder of the days of lawlessness, impunity and brigandage “for which the sponsors of the caretaker committee have been known over the years.”

    Sheriff enjoined his supporters to remain calm and law abiding in the face of the various provocations and allow the law to take its course.

    He also implored security agencies to stop taking sides in political matters, even as he frowned at the way policemen deployed to secure the party secretariat refrained from interfering in the protest.

    Accusing the caretaker committee of desperation, lies and blackmail, Sheriff said attempts to confer legitimacy on the committee would fail.

    He refuted the allegation by the Makarfi camp that he was being sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The statement said, “Makarfi and his sponsors want to create the wrong impression that Sheriff is not reliable, whereas it is an open secret that Sheriff has given credible and honest leadership to his state, to Nigeria and to the PDP, even for the short period he has been in the saddle of leadership than Ahmed Makarfi.

    “Be that as it may, we wish to challenge Ahmed Makarfi to name the date, venue and names of those in attendance at the so called meeting Sheriff allegedly had with some Governors of the APC.

    “Again how could Sheriff be a stooge when he remains the only PDP stalwart that speaks out against the APC since the party lost the 2015 elections?

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that Ali Modu Sheriff left the APC at its formative stage, and has never had anything to do with the party or any of its stalwarts since his departure.

    “One wonders how Ahmed Makarfi and his cohorts could tell lies just to divert attention from the real issues at stake.”