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Tag: convention

PDP: Road to next convention
Alot has been said about the botched national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt, which was caused by the power struggle between the sacked National Working Committee headed by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and the National Caretaker Committee, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, which replaced it.

It is quite obvious that the party cannot really move forward until the crisis is resolved either decisively by law or amicably through a political settlement. However, the judicial option may not offer much hope of quick resolution if the current experience of seemingly interminable litigations involving the party is anything to go by.

This means that the National Caretaker Committee must work very hard to unite the party before the 12 months set for the resolution of all issues of discord and the convening of another convention runs out. However, it is important to note that apart from the issue of reconciliation amongst leaders and members, there are other issues that must be resolved ahead of the convention.

Fortunately, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party has started to do something in this regard. Its meeting on August 29 yielded some commendable resolutions. Among others, the board resolved that the next convention be held in Abuja, that a new National Convention Planning Committee be constituted and that the Reconciliation Committee should continue all efforts for reconciliation amongst members. It is hoped that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party will meet soon to ratify these resolutions.

The BoT and the Caretaker Committee should have been aware by now that there are many issues arising from the Port Harcourt convention to be addressed and the earlier they were addressed, the better for all party stakeholders. First is the allegation that the process of that convention, particularly the preparation for the election of national officers, was not transparent. This observation raised fears that the election would not have been free, fair and credible if it was held.

It is no longer news that majority of the contestants for the post of national chairman raised alarm over the alleged manipulation that attended the preparations for that election in an alleged bid by some people to impose a candidate favoured by them. In fact, three, out of the five contenders for the post, namely, Chief Olabode George, Dr Raymond Dokpesi and Professor Tunde Adeniran, had resolved to boycott the election in reaction to the imminent imposition, before the election was stepped down. These Nigerians are leaders whose views and feelings cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand.

Therefore, the issue of imposition must be revisited and there must be assurance that internal democracy and rule of law as enshrined in the constitution of the party will henceforth be upheld in all its activities, including the next convention. The party must always guarantee a level playing field. It must ensure that both players and officials abide by the established rules of the game. It must read the riot act to all members, leaders and officials seen to be inclined to disrespecting established order. Let it be known that their undue interventions will no longer be accepted nor tolerated, no matter who they are or the power and influence they wield,

This is the only way to restore sanity and discipline in the party and discourage lawlessness and impunity. The warlord syndrome that characterized the party, particularly during the immediate past administration whereby anybody that could lay hold on power and money wanted to create a fiefdom for himself to control the party structure and dictate to others should be oming near power. discouraged. They should be reminded that if the leaders before them had behaved in same manner, they would never have had the opportunity of coming near power.

As for the planning of next convention, the National Caretaker Committee and the BoT, as the conscience of the party, must look closely this time around. Whether it was by a coincidence or design, the organisation of the botched Port Harcourt convention, particularly the distribution of responsibilities for the election of national officers, was questionable. Everything appeared to be in the hands of Governor Nyesom Wike and his kinsmen from Rivers State.

For instance, apart from Rivers State hosting the convention, Governor Wike was the Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee. Rt. Hon Austin Opara, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives from Rivers State was the chairman of the Electoral Subcommittee for the election of subcommittee that screened the candidates for the election. And Governor Wike’s Chief of Staff was the Chairman of the Accreditation Subcommittee. national officers. The current Attorney-General of Rivers State was the secretary of the subcommittee that screened the candidates for the election. And Governor Wike’s Chief of Staff was the Chairman of the Accreditation Subcommittee.

While the personal integrity of these men is not in doubt, the party would do well, in its preparations for the next convention, to avoid over-concentration of power in the hands of a particular set of people. This will elicit more confidence in the convention process.

It is also important for the party to conclude all inconclusive congresses in the states and zones before the next convention. This will ensure that the authentic list of the respective categories of delegates are known and cannot be manipulated or discarded during the election.

The next national convention of the PDP can only be deemed successful if the election of national officers billed into it is successful. From experience, such an election is usually a very sensitive issue as things played out in Port Harcourt. The Nigerian factor is that every interest group in the party thinks its interest would only be protected if its own people are at the helm. That is a selfish motive based on a wrong assumption. It was this perception that goaded the people who allegedly attempted to manipulate the convention in Port Harcourt.

The PDP would truly be reborn if it could break this barrier of selfishness and personal aggrandizement by electing its national officers from the very best of the best candidates with the requisite knowledge, understanding, experience and wisdom to uphold, protect, defend, enforce and promote the values of the party. These values are inclusive and have already provided for the interests of all members and the electorate.
- Johnson, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos.
October 30, 2016
Convention of impunity
SIR: Unlike behemoth political parties in other climes driven by the tenets of rule of law and exemplary values essential for the emergence of a viable nationhood, PDP has once again added a new twist to its penchant for lawlessness, stereotype of greed and an overweening desire to capture power at all costs.

A new chapter of judicial skulduggery has been unfolded with a high court judge contradicting, reversing and assuming appellate status over earlier pronouncement of a court of coordinate jurisdiction. This is novel in the Nigerian political diary of disingenuous escapades leaving reflective citizens in utter bewilderment.

PDP is bent on conducting a convention that is a nullity in the face of legal scrutiny because when the chips are down, the Port Harcourt court cannot deliver the party from the judicial contempt awaiting it at the Court of Appeal thereby rendering the whole convention nugatory.

Whereas the party wilfully selected Ali Modu Sheriff as its chairman against all interdictions of common sense, a misadventure purportedly executed by Governor Ayodele Fayose and Governor Olusegun Mimiko in their desperate vice presidential bids, this does not remove Sheriff’s fundamental right to seek judicial redress.

As the convention preliminaries have taken off with screening of candidates in total defilement of the laws of the land, Nigerians must be left askance at the ability of PDP to play a credible opposition politics not to talk of taking power in 2019 as its leading lights are boasting without any introspection.

The NJC must step in to halt the aberration before it fosters an irreversible judicial anarchy and dilute the nation’s jurisprudential precedence.
- Bukola Ajisola,
Victoria Island, Lagos.
August 18, 2016
Police seal off PDP convention venue

The Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers State venue of today’s National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been sealed off by a combined team of security personnel from the police and Department of State Services (DSS).

The Rivers Commissioner of Police, Francis Mobolaji Odesanya, said in a telephone call that : “We are obeying court order.”

It was gathered that policemen and other security operatives moved to the sharks stadium at the old Port Harcourt Township, popularly called Town, as early as 4 a.m. today, to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

Sharks stadium was ready last night, while the Outside Broadcasting (OB) vans of the Africa Independent Television (AIT), Channels Television and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) were mounted Tuesday evening and early this morning, but the security men asked the teams to quickly vacate the stadium, while journalists who got to the venue as early as 6 a.m., were ordered to immediately leave the stadium.

Our correspondent who was at sharks stadium at 6 a.m. was prevented at the main gate by fully-armed and stern-looking policemen, DSS operatives and other security personnel from gaining entrance into the venue.
Journalists, politicians and other persons who had already entered the stadium were ordered out, with more journalists and PDP members still milling around the stadium, as at press time, in case of further developments.

August 17, 2016
How Makarfi beat Sheriff in bid for PDP convention

•INEC raises monitoring team

Factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Senator Ali Modu Sheriff may have lost his bid to stop the party’s convention billed for Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Wednesday.

Sources told The Nation yesterday that the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has got the nod of the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) Reconciliation Committee to host the convention.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it was learnt, has raised a team to monitor the convention.

Makarfi was said to have won the heart of the BoT because his group has gone far with preparations for the convention.

Sheriff, sources said, had become too adamant for the liking of the BoT, which tried all it could to reconcile him with Makarfi.

A source said Sheriff and the BoT, which met in Abuja last Wednesday, disagreed on four issues, including the convention’s postponement.

Sheriff had canvassed for postponement until what he called the “knotty issues” of the party chairman is sorted out.

He and Ahmed Makarfi are fighting over who leads the party.

The other issues are the timing for the reconstitution of the National Convention Committee, who will preside over the convention between Sheriff and Makarfi and the number of slots for Sheriff’s camp in a harmonised National Working Committee( NWC).

The reconciliation panel, headed by Prof. Jerry Gana, has foreclosed any further concession to Sheriff and declared that the convention would go ahead on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.

According to investigation by our correspondent, the reconciliation talks between the Gana committee and Sheriff’s camp went well until the four “knotty issues” came up.

A source said: “The talks began well and we were able to agree on the need to hold a National Convention to put the past behind us and reconstitute the National Convention Committee.

“We even agreed that there will be co-chairmen for the NCC and that Makarfi and Sheriff will coordinate the convention.

“But Sheriff’s camp said the time was too short for it to nominate members into the convention committee.

“It demanded that the convention be postponed by one or two weeks to enable the party create a sense of belonging for all groups and tendencies to be able to fully participate.

“Sheriff’s camp believes that the reconstitution of the convention committee requires throwing nomination for offices into the NWC open afresh. Also, it said the election of delegates should be revisited.

“But there was no commitment from the reconciliation committee on how Sheriff’s camp will be accommodated in the new NWC.

“Sheriff also wanted to know who will preside over the convention between him and Makarfi. He was uncomfortable with the two of them coordinating the convention.”

Another party source added: “We could not address or find immediate solutions to issues tabled by Sheriff because the party had gone far in planning the National Convention.

“So, we disagreed on these four key areas. We will go ahead with the National Convention. We have bent backward a lot to accommodate Sheriff.”

A National Commissioner, who confirmed that INEC would monitor the convention, said: “We will monitor the PDP convention on Wednesday based on legal advice.”

When contacted, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity Wole Uzzi said: “ We have received a letter to monitor the National Convention of PDP. Except there is a contrary court order, we will monitor the convention in Port Harcourt.”

Asked whether the letter was from the Makarfi group or Sheriff, he said: “Based on the law, there is only one PDP known to INEC.”

He said he had no list of the INEC team going to Port Harcourt.

August 15, 2016
Dark clouds over PDP’s August 17 convention

Will the August 17 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention billed for Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, hold? This is the question many are asking, following the July 29 ruling of Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Federal High Court, reaffirming Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the party’s National Chairman. The convention was fixed by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI reports that the ruling may have altered the calculations.

There is a pall of uncertainty over the August 17 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, scheduled to take place in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. About a week to the convention, it is not certain that it would hold. Though former President Goodluck Jonathan has intervened in the matter, it is far from being settled.

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja provided the recipe for the current round of crisis facing the opposition party in his July 29 ruling, when he had answered the prayer of the embattled Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Working Committee (NWC), by declaring that Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee has no legal basis to conduct next week’s convention. He said based on the orders of the Lagos High Court of May 12 and 20, 2016 that the PDP had no legal authority to hold the Port Harcourt convention of May 21, 2016, which led to the emergence of the Makarfi-led committee.

In the ruling, he said: “The convention was unlawfully held and the caretaker committee was unlawfully and illegally appointed and could not lawfully take decisions on behalf of the PDP, on account of the subsisting orders of the Lagos division of the court dated May 12 and 20, 2016.”

But, indications are that the two groups jostling for the soul of the party appear determined to hang on to the end. The Makarfi-led committee has waved aside the Abuja High Court ruling declaring it illegal and warning it not to do anything to destroy the case before him, saying that the convention would proceed as scheduled.

Spokesman of the Makarfi committee, Dayo Adeyeye, said in a statement after the ruling that Justice Abang is “deliberately” engaging in acts capable of derailing the country’s democracy. He called on members and supporters of the party to remain calm and law abiding, because the national convention will hold as scheduled.

The statement reads: “We have just received information that Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an order of interlocutory injunction stopping our scheduled national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. But, we want to state that the judgment of July 4, 2016 supersedes any ex-parte order or interlocutory injunctions. So, our national convention will hold as scheduled in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.”

Adeyeye added: “He (Justice Abang) has penchant for abuse of court processes and actions of legal impunity. This judge, Nigerians will recall, issued judgment against the governor of Abia State that led to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) re-issuing another certificate of return to a man who did not contest election, thereby causing unnecessary hardship on the people of that state.”

Against this background, aspirants for the position of national chairman, which has been zoned to the South, have already started campaigning for votes ahead of the convention. Most of the aspirants are from the Southwest and the Southsouth geo-political zone. In a gentleman’s agreement, leaders of the party in the South have decided to micro zone the position to the Southwest; with the proviso that any aggrieved aspirant from the other two zones are free to contest.

Last Tuesday, the National Caretaker Committee appointed Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike as chairman of the proposed convention. Two hundred and forty-one others were also appointed to serve as members of the committee. While preparations towards the Port Harcourt convention are still ongoing, indications are that the July 29 Abuja Federal High Court ruling has given the Sheriff-led NWC an upper hand.

INEC’s ambivalence on the crisis had further compounded the confusion surrounding the August 17 convention. Before the latest ruling by Justice Abang, it had recognised the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee, based on the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt. Even after the ruling, the commission had kept mum in the wake of the confusion surrounding the prospects of the convention.

It took Sheriff’s letter to the commission, requesting that it should ignore the Caretaker Committee’s letter notifying it of the proposed convention, to prod INEC into action. In the letter dated August 2, 2016, Senator Sheriff told the commission that the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee is illegal and has no powers under the PDP constitution to convene the party’s National Convention.

Sheriff maintained in the letter that the only body that can call for and ratify activities culminating to a National Convention of the PDP is the National Executive Committee (NEC) as enshrined in Article 31 (2)(a) of the Constitution of the PDP. He said as the chairman of the PDP, he was not planning any convention, because he has not been so authorised by the NEC to do so and that any person or group of persons planning for such an event is doing so as an illegal body; in direct contempt of valid court orders.

INEC said it has started studying the issues raised with a view to coming up with a position. Its spokesman, Nick Dazang said a team raised by the electoral commission is studying the issues advanced by the different factions of the party vis-à-vis the different court pronouncements to be able to make an informed decision on the proposed convention.

A PDP chieftain and senator representing Ogun East District in the upper legislative chamber, Sen. Buruji Kashamu, has appealed to stakeholders to call for an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, to iron out the contentious issues and put an end to the party’s leadership crisis.

Apparently referring to the recent court ruling, Kashamu said an illegality cannot be used to solve the problem of the party. Owing to the contradictory pronouncements coming from the various divisions of the Federal High Court, he said it is clear that the courts may not be able to resolve the issues in a manner that will ultimately work out for the greater good of the party. He said his intervention is not about anybody or group of persons, stressing that he has nothing to do taking sides with Sheriff or Senator Makarfi, as both leaders have contributed to the well-being of the PDP.

His words: “I suggest that we needed to call a NEC meeting where we could right the wrongs in order to preempt mischievous elements or the opposition who could use some disloyal members of the party in the nearest future, to question the outcome of the National Convention.

“I averred that we may be building the party on a foundation of illegality by appointing a National Caretaker Committee who will conduct the affairs of the party that will lead to another convention from where new officers of the Party who will subsequently conduct the National Convention in which the presidential candidate would be elected.

“That trend is dysfunctional, dangerous and ominous. To build our party on a solid and sure foundation, we must get rid of illegality and impunity. Today, the realities that stare us in the face affirm my position, making it more compelling.”

The PDP has been enmeshed in a series of leadership crises, which culminated in two parallel conventions in Abuja and Port Harcourt. Sheriff was chairman of the party before the party’s national convention held in Port Harcourt on May 21. At the convention, Makarfi was appointed chairman of a caretaker committee and was backed by state governors and national lawmakers. Other stakeholders, such as the party’s board of Trustees (BoT) later backed the committee.

Just when members of the party thought that the crises rocking the party had been resolved, Justice Abang resurrected the crisis with a ruling, which is considered as controversial, when he nullified the appointment of Makarfi as the caretaker committee chairman and affirmed Sheriff as the authentic National Chairman.

The judge held that Sheriff remained the authentic national chairman of the PDP and had the authority to act and take decisions on behalf of the party, adding also that any decision outside his committee was illegal, unlawful and not binding on the party. Aside ruling that the Makarfi-led committee was illegal and could not conduct any function on behalf of the party, Abang also barred the caretaker committee from conducting the national convention of the party slated for August 17 in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

In a ruling that was widely regarded as a way to permanently resolve legal crises plaguing the PDP, Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Federal High, Port Harcourt had on July 4, declared the May 21 national convention of the party valid, stating that its decisions did not violate any known law or the constitution of the party. He also affirmed that the appointment of the Makarfi-led national caretaker committee by the national convention of the PDP to oversee its affairs was legal and in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution. He therefore dismissed all grounds of defence put up by Sheriff.

Liman said Article 31 (1) of the PDP constitution vested the powers to convene a national convention on the national executive committee of the party and held that pursuant to the constitution of the party, Sheriff had no powers to unilaterally postpone the properly constituted national convention on a day all delegates had converged on Port Harcourt, the host city.

The judge described the action of Sheriff as “most unconscionable”, pointing out that the former acting national chairman participated in all the processes leading to the national convention, only to make a U-turn at the final minute after he was screened and disqualified. The court ruled that after Sheriff was disqualified following his screening, the only option that was left to him was to have gone to the venue of the national convention to seek the opinion of delegates whether they were prepared to go on with the convention or not.

According to him, the absence of Sheriff at the convention did not visibly affect the process as his powers were not usurped. He declared that under Article 35 (b) of the PDP constitution, in the absence of the chairman, the deputy chairman was empowered to preside over the national convention.

Justice Liman further argued that in line with Article 33 (2) of the PDP constitution, the national convention of the party is supreme and can exercise the powers to dissolve the national working committee and the national executive committee of the party. He emphasised that there was no suit challenging the conduct of the national convention in Port Harcourt and that no injunction was sought to stop the convention. He noted that five days to the national convention, Sheriff had, through his counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), dissociated himself from one of the suits they filed via proxies.

But, Justice Abang, who has concurrent powers with Justice Liman, condemned the Port Harcourt judgment and held that the purported convention held in Port Harcourt on May 20 was in violation of two court orders of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, which barred the PDP and INEC from holding the convention. He barred the Makarfi-led caretaker committee from exercising any authority or taking any decision on behalf of the PDP on account of being an illegal body.

August 8, 2016
PDP convention committee meets

The National Convention Planning Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday held its inaugural meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Addressing the meeting, Governor Nyesom Wike urged members to work for the success of the convention.

He said the forthcoming convention supersedes the early convention of May 21, 2016.

The governor, who chairs the committee, urged members to make sacrifices for to rebuild the party ahead of the next general election.

Wike announced that sub committees with the responsibility of handling specific assignments will be set up.

He said: “We have a responsibility to organise a successful national convention to ensure that the party moves forward. I implore every member to make sacrifices “

Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, inaugurated the National Convention Planning Committee.

August 8, 2016
Kashamu cautions PDP on convention

The Senator representation Ogun East senatorial district, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has said the proposed national convention slated for August 17 will not resolve the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement in Abuja yesterday, Kashamu pleaded with elders in the party to find ways of uniting the Caretaker Committee headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi with the Ali Modu Sheriff faction.

According to him, it would be better for the party to unite the two factions before going ahead with the proposed convention, warning that doing otherwise could worsen the crisis.

The Makarfi committee, backed by the key organs of the party, including the governors, have resolved to go ahead with the convention in spite of the various conflicting court judgments and orders against both factions.

Makarfi and Sheriff have continued to lay claim to the leadership of the party shortly after the botched May 21 Port Harcourt convention where Sheriff was replaced with Makarfi.

Kashamu warned that unless issues of the various conflicting court injunctions are fully addressed with the two factions in agreement, the outcome of the proposed convention may also become a subject of fresh litigation.

The senator said: “Going to Port Harcourt for another national convention on August 17, without addressing the issues that have stuck out like a sore thumb might turn out to be an exercise in futility.

“I appeal to all our leaders to wade into the crisis and resolve the issues. If we gloss over the issues and facts and go ahead to hold the proposed convention without resolving them, the perception of PDP as a lawless organisation will sink deeper and ultimately public opinion will be against us.

“An air of palpable confusion pervades our party and the land, with one division of the court saying Makarfi’s appointment is right while another division of the same court says Sheriff is the authentic national chairman of our party.

“We cannot continue like this. Already, the nomination (governorship) processes in Edo and Ondo States are being endangered by the current crisis.

“It is incumbent on all well-meaning leaders and elders of the party to court Senators Sheriff and Makarfi and look for a political solution to this crisis and resolve it, once and for all. Nothing is too much to give, if we truly love the party”.

Kashamu noted that although there was no court injunction stopping the proposed August 17 convention, the reality of a pronouncement by a court in Abuja to the effect that the Makarfi committee cannot lawfully take actions on behalf of the PDP remained a source of grave worry.

Besides the resources that might be wasted on the exercise, Kashamu said going ahead with the convention could also constitute contempt of some of the court injunctions on the part of the organisers.

The lawmaker said these loopholes could easily be exploited by groups and individuals who are bent on frustration the efforts of the party to their own advantage.

Said he, “They wait on the sidelines to analyse situations and then go to court when you least expected to procure orders and judgments that they use to exploit the system.

Stressing the need for the party to guard against such pitfalls, Kashamu appealed to the party leaders to help put an end to the culture of impunity which has continued to plague the PDP.

August 3, 2016
Court didn’t stop Port Harcourt convention, says Makarfi’s lawyer

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Ferdinand Orbih, at the weekend has picked holes in a ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja, recognising the Senator Alimodu Sherrif-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Orbih, counsel to the Makarfi-led faction, said the ruling by Justice Okon Abang did not stop the national convention billed for August 17 in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

The senior advocate told reporters that the Federal High Court in Abuja never restrained the PDP from holding its forthcoming convention.

He said: ”The point must be made very clearly that it is not true that the Honourable Justice Okon Abang stopped the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention scheduled to hold in Port-Harcourt on August 17, 2016.

“What is true is that there is an application filed by the plaintiffs seeking to stop that convention. It will interest you to note that the application is still pending; it has not even been argued before the learned trial judge.

“So, there is no way a judge can give a decision on a motion that has not yet been argued before him. So, it is good to disabuse the minds of the public that no such thing happened.”

Justice Abang, while ruling on the PDP leadership crisis suit last Thursday, had adjourned a pending application seeking to stop the convention. Justice Abang had said: “This suit is adjourned till August 15, to rule on applications seeking to stop the National Convention of the party scheduled for August 17 in Port Harcourt as well as the one by other Executives of the Markafi-led Committee seeking to join in the matter.”

Orbih said: ”What the Port-Harcourt division of the High Court decided was that the convention that was held in Port-Harcourt wherein the Ali Modu Sherriff National Executive Committee of the PDP was dissolved and the Ahmed Markafi-led caretaker committee was set up by the PDP, was validly held and conducted and that everything done in that convention was in order.”

August 1, 2016
Nothing will stop our convention ,PDP vows

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared yesterday that nothing will stop it from holding its national convention billed for next month in Port Harcourt, despite Thursday’s ruling of a Federal High Court, Abuja, restraining the party from going ahead with the meeting.

“We are yet to see any judgment suspending the national convention. Whichever way it is, if we decide ýto appeal and we are given accelerated hearing, nothing will stop the convention,” Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr. Walid Jibrin, said yesterday in Kaduna.

Jibrin told reporters that efforts by those he branded as internal and external forces to destroy the party would fail.

He said the PDP was already taking necessary steps to resolve the stalemate and restore the party’s lost glory through genuine reconciliation and mediation.

His words: “It is bound to happen; challenges from both internal and external forces are bound to happen.

“We are engaging in genuine reconciliation and mediation that will make us come out stronger to win Edo, Ondo governorship polls, the re-run in Rivers State and capture power in 2019.

“We will get the judgment copy and study it and thereafter take necessary actions.

“But whoever is out to destroy our efforts, particularly the Edo primaries, God will not forgive such personý because we have all the INEC documents authenticating the Edo primaries.”

He asked party members who are in court against the party to withdraw such immediately.

He also appealed to supporters of the party who may be frustrated by the unfolding events to remain calm and shun personal attacks on individuals.

He said: ”We have observed the interest purported to be shown by some people who are committed to killing the PDP. We will X-ray the situation because we are the opposition party dealing with issues that will help Nigeria rather than abusing individuals.

“The BoT is up to the task to resolve the problems after due consultation. God will not allow anybody to be used to destroy the party.”

Jibrin said every true party member knows that the party is supreme and no committed member will allow selfish and personal interest override that of the party.

Justice Okon Abang of the FHC, Abuja, had on Thursday affirmed Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the party’s authentic national chairman.

He also granted an interlocutory order dissolving the PDP national working committee headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Meanwhile, the interlocutory injunction given on Thursday by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja has continued to generate controversy within the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee of the party has said that the court’s injunction did not affect the party’s convention billed to hold in Port Harcourt on August 17.

Addressing news men in Abuja yesterday, the spokesman for the caretaker committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the injunction given by Justice Abang only touched on dispute arising from the legal representation for the PDP.

The ousted chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, had filed the suit, seeking to stop the caretaker committee from conducting the convention as scheduled.

Adeyeye said the motion seeking to restrain the PDP from conducting the convention has not been heard by the court and no date has been fixed for the hearing.

He said: “It must be emphasised that at no stage did the Hon. Judge set aside the judgment of Justice A. M. Liman of the Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court, which could have led to the dissolution of the caretaker committee.

“An order validating Sheriff as national chairman could not have arisen from the issue of proper legal representation”.

The caretaker committee spokesman quoted Justice Abanga as saying that he would not nullify an earlier judgment by another court in Port Harcourt which recognized the Makarfi-led committee because there was no application before him to that effect.

Adeyeye decried a situation where the courts are being used to distort party programmes, saying that the trend could destroy the nation’s democracy.

He appealed to politicians not to always resort to the court to settle political matters, saying that no court has the powers to impose a chairman on any political party.

At a separate briefing, Sheriff praised the judgment by Justice Abang, describing it as a demonstration of the “existence of some fine judges in Nigeria”

According to him, the court order had boosted his desire to wipe out impunity from the party. He announced his readiness to take the PDP to the ordinary people at the grassroots level.

Following the judgment, Sheriff said he would convene an expanded caucus meeting of the PDP, which he said would comprise the Board of Trustees (BoT), National Assembly Caucus and chairmen of state chapters.

He promised to chart the next line of action for the party, with the view to setting in motion fresh preparations for the party’s convention at a different venue outside Port Harcourt.

July 30, 2016
Annual convention

The women of the Apostolic Church of Nigeria, Great Ilasa Area branch have celebrated the 14th edition of their yearly convention in Lagos.

With the guidance of members of its Executive Council, the women in attendance discussed issues concerning the welfare, advancement and participation of women in leadership at various levels.

July 6, 2016