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Tag: National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

  • Secondus alleges plots to arrest Atiku, Obi, Saraki, Dogara

    The national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has raised the alarm, alleging plots by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest some key leaders of the opposition party on trump up charges.

    Secondus listed the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; his running mate, Peter Obi; President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and other leaders of the party as some of those marked for arrest.

    In a statement issued on Monday by Secondus media aide, Ike Abonyi, the party chairman warned that the country would explode any moment if the EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu continued with such impunity.

    Alleging plots to prefer frame up charges against the PDP chieftains, the main opposition party chairman further warned that the country is presently sitting on a gunpowder.

    Prince Secondus further cautioned the EFCC chairman, saying that he won’t get away with the hatchet job he has taken upon himself by using instruments of state to harass and intimidate opposition figures.

    Regretting that Magu has made himself a willing tool for oppression, Secondus said available intelligence indicated that the EFCC chairman was working in cahoots with some prominent chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “They are presiding over clandestine meetings and developing strategies for the APC, which is aimed at caging and crushing critical leaders of the opposition”, Secondus said.

    The party chairman said aside arrest and detention of the targeted opposition leaders, their family members and business associates have also been lined up for intimidation and harassment, including freezing their business interests and their bank accounts.

    He described as an afterthought fabrication, the EFCC’s statement that the two sons of Atiku, whose residence was raided by operatives on the Commission on Saturday, were not the target of the raid.

    Prince Secondus recalled the security search on Atiku on November 11, when he arrived in the country from Dubai, saying the country has gone into full blown dictatorship.

    “After that embarrassment and harassment which was aimed at intimidating the candidate and nothing incriminating was found on him, no apology was extended to him as a former number two citizen.

    “They followed it up with the freezing of the bank accounts of our vice presidential candidate as well as that of his friends and family members as part of a large scheme to keep the party distracted from its focus of regaining power in 2019”, the statement added.

    The PDP chairman said the script being played by the ruling party was meant to bring key opposition leaders to their knees, with a view to grounding them, framing them up and putting them behind bars before the 2019 elections.

    He called on all lovers of democracy and rule of law, especially the international community to rein in President Muhammadu Buhari, Magu and the APC to observe the tenets of democracy that respect the sanctity of the opposition and human rights.

     

  • Defection: PDP chair mocks Akpabio for joining ‘sinking ship’

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has mocked the erstwhile Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akoabio, for jumping into a “sinking ship”.

    Akpabio had on Monday, dumped the PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in a move perceived by many as ploy to leverage on his status in the APC.

    Read Also:Akpabio meets Buhari in UK ahead defection to APC

    Describing Akpabio’s action as unfortunate, Secondus said Akpabio chose to walk against the tide to endanger his otherwise rising political career.

    In a statement on Wednesday by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, the PDP chair said he found it very strange that anybody would go into a “sinking ship” at a time every other person was finding their way out of it.

    Secondus traced Akpabio’s action to self-preservation and not borne out of any rational strategic political decision.

    The party chair added that Akpabio’s decision did not enjoy the blessing of the people of Akwa Ibom whose mandate he enjoyed for eight years as state governor and his present position senator.

    Secondus said, “I cannot fathom any reason why on earth Senator Akpabio should work against the tide, moving at opposite direction to a place every reasonable person is escaping from.

    “He deserves our pity because whatever would make somebody to choose bad for good is clearly one that he should be prayed for, for salvation, especially given the fact that wolves are waiting for his arrival to devour him.

    “How on earth can anybody who has his eyes wide open be seen walking into danger knowingly”.

    Prince Secondus lashed out at the APC, for allegedly arm-twisting and intimidating people into what he described as a “sinking boat”, ostensibly to ruin and disintegrate the person involved.

    He called on the people of Akwa Ibom to be wise and know when to turn their back from a leader directing them to danger.

    “I urge you to remain focused and continue to give support to your hard working governor, His Excellency Emmanuel Udom as he remains unrelenting in the delivery of democracy to the people,” he said.

     

  • Ojezua to Edo PDP: Take cue from Secondus, beg Edo people for forgiveness

    …urges opposition party to forget governance, complete repentance

     

    Less than 24 hours after the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Uche Secondus, apologised to Nigerians for what he described as “the past mistakes of the PDP,” Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Anselm Ojezua, has called on the Edo State PDP members to emulate their national chairman and apologise to Edo people.

    Ojezua said: “Edo people deserve an unreserved apology from the Edo State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih as well as other leaders of the party in the state, for their years of misrule. We need not debate the sins of the PDP over and again, now that the national chairman of the opposition party has courageously admitted to impunity and misrule.”

    He explained that the “Edo APC has in the past, urged the Edo PDP to apologise for their sins which are still visible in all parts of the state, several years after they were voted out of office.”

    He maintained that “it is foolhardy and imprudent to continue to grandstand when your sins stare at you daily, from the failed dredging of Ikpoba River, the failed Edo Water Board resuscitation project, failed Cassavita Factory, failed Fruit Juice processing factory in Ehor, failed Bendel Breweries and Edo Line, for which billions of naira were either borrowed or allegedly spent, yet Edo people never had the benefit of seeing their actualisation, and enjoying the outcomes.”

    Ojezua argued that “if the Edo PDP government meant well for Edo people and completed these projects, the socio-economic profile of the state would have appreciated a great deal. Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole picked up a completely broken down state and rescued it from total collapse by aggressively fixing the huge infrastructural deficit he inherited, constructing schools, roads, hospitals  and enthroning purposeful leadership.

    “Today, Governor Godwin Obaseki is paying the desired attention to industrialisation, infrastructure, law and order and job creation, amongst other sectors. This is how to govern. Leaders must continue to raise the bar of service delivery and add value to our lives and not engage in looting spree, sponsoring lavish birthday parties with state funds.”

    Secondus said at a well-attended public discourse on contemporary politics and governance in Nigeria on Monday in Abuja: “We are sorry, we have made several mistakes which will not happen again.

    “In the past there were impunity and imposition, we are not spirit, we have to be humble to apologise for imposition, impunity and other wrongdoings, while in government.

    “Since it is said that charity begins at home, I am the very first to admit that our party the People’s Democratic Party of Nigeria made many mistakes. Consequently, we were roundly sanctioned by Nigerians occasioning our loss at the polls in 2015.

    “Let me seize this opportunity to apologise to Nigerians unequivocally for the several shortcomings of our party in the near and far past. It was all parts of an evolution process without which there can be no maturity.”

    Ojezua stressed that “the evolution process of the PDP is far from complete” and advised them to “forego governance for the now and take out some years to mature, which requires several years, before making a re-launch.”

    Read Also: PDP: we beg Nigerians for our mistakes

  • Stop intimidating PDP leaders, Secondus tells FG

    Stop intimidating PDP leaders, Secondus tells FG

    The national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has alleged harassment of opposition figures by the All Progressives Congress (PDP) led Federal Government.

    Secondus was reacting to the ongoing investigation of the immediate past President of the Senate, David Mark by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The party chair, who spoke at the Abuja secretariat of the PDP on Tuesday, alleged harassment of the former Senate President by the anti-graft agency, saying such treatment, amounted to injustice.

    Mark is currently undergoing investigation over his alleged role in the disbursement of election funds in 2015 and the purchase of his official residence while he was Senate President.

    The government had indicated interest in the said building located within the Apo Legislative Quarters and had issued Mark with quit notice.

    But Secondus insisted that the investigation was part of a grand plan by the ruling APC to continue to harass and intimidate prominent opposition figures with the view to frustrating them and dampening their morale ahead of the 2019 general election.

    The chairman said, “Enough is enough. All over the world there is no place a former Senate President can be treated the way David Mark is being treated. They have failed and they know Nigerians know it.

    All they do now is to attack and harass the opposition. Don’t attack the opposition. That is injustice. Concentrate on fulfilling your promises to the people. Enough of this.

    We are not in a military era. God does not sleep. What you serve others, is what you will be served with. We handed over freely in 2015. APC should also be ready to handover without intimidation.

    “Nigerians will vote and kick out APC with their voter cards. Stop intimidation of our leaders. We will no longer take it.  People in power should be very careful because power will come and go”.

    Secondus called on opposition members to rise to the challenge of unseating the APC in 2019, stressing that they should not harbour any pessimism in the task of reclaiming power in the next election.

    Speaking at a two-day retreat from elected officials of the PDP at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, blamed the party’s defeat in the 2015 general elections on lack of internal democracy, which he said manifested in the forms of imposition of candidates and disregard for the party’s constitution.

    Ekweremadu said, “Another election year is by the corner. The new NWC must ensure that the party does not repeat past mistakes. We must return power to the people, as our name and slogan rightly demand of us. This will not only reassure Nigerians that we are indeed an improved and rebranded PDP, but will also encourage the massive return of former party faithful.

    “Furthermore, the public will evaluate our commitment to end corruption and promote accountability and transparency by the way we handle internal party affairs.

    “We have a history of fighting corruption and our systems must be corruption-free. This should stand us out as the only hope to eradicate corruption in Nigeria. The PDP established the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

    “We saw to the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act and introduction of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Treasury Single Account (TSA), and the Biometric Verification Number (BVN). The PDP also ensured that the Civil Society Organisations and the press flourished to promote an accountable and open society.

    “There was no effort by the PDP to tame the Non-Governmental Organisations or the use of the social media. Importantly, we beamed the anti-graft searchlight on our own members to demonstrate that there must be no sacred cows in the war against graft.

    “Therefore, we must conduct our affairs in a way that reassure Nigerians that under the incoming PDP administration, we will not only consolidate on all these track record, but will also firmly eradicate corruption from 2019”.

    The Deputy Senate President identified the choice of the party’s presidential candidate for 2019 as one of the biggest challenges confronting the PDP, stressing that the fate and political fortunes of the party would depend on the party’s presidential candidate.

    “The party must, therefore, identify a candidate with the credentials, reach, charisma, competence, and popularity to outmatch any candidate presented by the ruling APC and any other parties for that matter.

    “The party’s leadership should encourage every interested and qualified member to vie for the ticket in a free, fair, and credible party primary. Let the best candidate emerge”.

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson who also attended the event, assured that the party was already making progress in its reconciliation efforts.

    Dickson, who chairs the reconciliation committee of the PDP, said all the aggrieved aspirants in the party’s just concluded national convention would be appeased.

    According to him, he had been able to plead with Prof Taoheed Adedoja, one of the aggrieved chairmanship candidates in the just concluded convention to seek out of court settlement with the party.

    Adedoja has dragged the party’s leadership to court, seeking the cancellation of the convention and also asking the court to sack Secondus as national chairman.

    Meanwhile, the PDP has fixed a meeting with all defeated aspirants in the just concluded convention for the scone week in January 2018.

    The party’s spokesman, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan who made the announcement in his remarks at the retreat assured that all the complaints of the aggrieved aspirants will be addressed at the meeting.

  • Makarfi cautions intending PDP returnees against delay

    Makarfi cautions intending PDP returnees against delay

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Ahmed Makarfi, has cautioned defectors from the party but who are willing to return, to do so without further delay.

    Asking the would be returnees and intending joiners to make up their minds in good time, the chairman said the PDP would not wait for anybody, as jostling for prime positions would soon commence.

    He revealed that Accord Party, led by a former Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Rasheed Ladoja; the Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by Mr. Seyi Makinde; and the Labour Party have already joined the PDP

    Makarfi said the Accord Party presently has six lawmakers in the Oyo State House of Assembly and that a 40-man committee has been set up to look into see to the registration of the new entrants.

    The chairman, who spoke on Wednesday at the meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) said, “While we reconcile and accommodate, we are not waiting for any individual to make up their mind”.

    Many of the prominent chieftains that dumped the PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before the 2015 elections are being rumoured to be working their way beach to the PDP.

    Makarfi added that the party’s success in the 2019 elections would largely depend on timely preparations and getting its forthcoming national convention right.

    “We have to get it right because this is what will determine whether we succeed in 2019 or not. We are working on the time table for the convention. We will consult and brief the BoT”, he said.

    He cautioned members against the antics of sycophants, saying that such could boomerang on the party because it would be difficult to carry everybody along.

    According to him, the leadership of the party was ready to wield the big stick, stressing that henceforth members would be made to face disciplinary actions if they worked against the interests of the party.

    Also speaking at the meeting, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu urged the party’s leadership to be cautious in handling issues surrounding the emergence of a substantive chairman.

    Describing the issue of chairmanship as very sensitive, the lawmaker warned that poor handling of the matter could affect the party’s chances in the 2019 elections.

    Ekweremadu said, “We have gone through trial, through the wilderness, but we are now out of it and heading to the Promised Land. It is expected that the BOT will play a prominent role in guiding the party; otherwise, we may never get to the Promised Land.

    “2019 is almost here, so let us not sit back and say we are watching what will happen. We can’t afford to remain in the opposition after 2019 (God forbid).

    “So, I want to appeal that going forward, we should have more meetings and more consultations to ensure that we make minimal mistakes and avoid the mistakes we made in the past.

    “As we approach the convention to elect our national officers, I want to appeal that the BOT must show more than passing interest in who becomes what.

    “Because the issue of who becomes the chairman is so critical that if we don’t get it right, nothing will happen in the aspect of the President. We should have the type of National Working Committee we would be proud of, to direct our party very well”

    The meeting however failed not elect a new Secretary for the BoT to fill the vacancy created by the death of Chief Ojo Maduekwe who died late 2016.

    Some sources at the meeting cited disagreement arising from insistence by some stakeholders from the South East zone to have one of the own occupy the position as reason the meeting failed to elect a new Secretary. The late Maduekwe hailed from the South East.

    Others sources attributed it to lack of quorum at the meeting, saying that matter had been shifted to the next meeting for a larger house to decide.

  • Makarfi: No rift between Jonathan, Dickson

    Makarfi: No rift between Jonathan, Dickson

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ahmed Makarfi has dismissed the alleged rift between former President Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson.

    Makarfi made the clarification on Tuesday while receiving the party’s Executive Committee members of the Bayelsa chapter of the PDP at the party’s Abuja secretariat.

    Recent media reports indicated that the alleged rift between Jonathan and Dickson was threatening the stability of the Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP.

    Makarfi told the Bayelsa delegation that he had discussed the alleged rift with Jonathan and that the former President had assured him that the reports were the handiwork of mischief makers for the purpose of creating crisis in the chapter.

    The party chair warned the leadership of the party in the state against yielding to the antics mischief makers who he said, were out to distabilise the party in the state.

    Makarfi said, “Don’t  allow yourselves to be fragmented by rumours. Your executive has been ratified by the convention and that is final. There is no need to pander to rumour of an impending sack of your executive”.

    The party chairman however admitted that a certain group of people filed a petition against the Bayelsa Governor and the executive committee of the state chapter but that he had dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.

    “Immediately the rumour broke out, the former President called me to dismiss that rumour and he said there was no iota of truth in the said petition against the Bayesla executive”, Makarfi said.

    Speaking earlier, the chairman of the Bayelsa chapter, Mr. Moses Cleopas, described Jonathan as a respected national leader who is held in high esteem by the people of the state.

    “The governor is our leader in the state and the two of them have been relating well. There is no feud between Jonathan and Dickson. I can confirm that. Some people are just envious of the peace in Bayelsa PDP”, Cleopas said.

  • PDP crisis: I won’t step down, says Sheriff

    PDP crisis: I won’t step down, says Sheriff

    . . .Insists on convention

     

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji All Modu Sheriff has ruled out stepping down as one of the options in the search for political solution to the party’s leadership crisis.

    Key stakeholders in the party have been harping on a vague concept of “political solution” without being explicit on details of the concept.

    Sheriff was reacting to a media report indicating that former President Goodluck Jonathan had asked him and the rival Caretaker Committee chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi to step down and allow the party’s governors to nominate another chairman.

    In a statement Thursday signed on his behalf by his appointed party spokesman, Mr. Bernard Mikko, Sheriff said the issue of resignation did not come up during his meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan last week.

    The statement said, “The general public, PDP members and the media are hereby informed that the issue of the National Chairman’s resignation as the political solution has never been discussed nor was it put up for discussion with the former President and other stakeholders.

    “The general public, PDP members nationwide and the media are hereby informed that shortly before the Court of Appeal judgement of 17th February, 2017; all parties and stakeholders agreed that on the receipt of the Court of Appeal judgement, whichever way it goes; members will be prevailed upon and urged to support the judgement and orders of the Court of Appeal and rally round the successful party to conduct; as soon as possible a national unity convention for the election of officers; the modalities of which shall be worked out by all stakeholders of the party.

    “As law abiding citizen and advocate of the rule of law, the National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff hereby calls on all stakeholders including but not limited to PDP governors; national and state assembly members; Board of Trustee members to make themselves available and give their input on how we can; as quickly as possible conduct a national unity convention where our national officers will be elected. The National Chairman has promised and undertaken not to contest”.

    Efforts by our correspondent to get the reaction of the Makarfi camp did not yield results. Repeated telephone calls and SMS messages to the spokesman of the Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye were left unanswered.

    Also Thursday, another reconciliation committee of the party, headed by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, met with some party leaders and some PDP National Assembly members in Abuja.

    A statement signed by Dickson after the meeting also harped on the need to find a political solution to the crisis, describing it as the best option.

    The Dickson committee endorsed the resolution reached by Jonathan and the governors, “without prejudice to the ongoing judicial processes”.

    The statement said, “As part of this process, it is imperative that an early convention within the second quarter of 2017 should be held in Abuja, which therefore should be all inclusive and where new national officials of the party will be freely, fairly and transparently elected.

    “In furtherance of this, the reconciliation committee shall embark on extensive consultations with all stakeholders with a view to building confidence and necessary consensus toward the unity convention”.

    “The committee, however, appeals to all party leaders and members of PDP to exercise restraint and focus on the loyalty to and the overall interest of the party”.

    Meanwhile, Sheriff Thursday announced Dr. Ahmed Gulak, a former Political Adviser to former President Jonathan as his Chief of Staff, with the appointment taking immediate effect.

     

  • Sheriff consults Anenih over PDP leadership crisis

    Sheriff consults Anenih over PDP leadership crisis

    Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday met with Chief Tony Anenih to consult him on the party’s leadership crisis.

    NAN reports that Anenih is a founding father of the party.

    The Court of Appeal had on Feb. 17, pronounced Sheriff as chairman of the party, while the Alhaji Ahmed Markafi group said it would appeal the ruling.

    Markafi, a former governor of Kaduna State is being supported by the present PDP governors.

    Sheriff, after the close door meeting with Anenih at his Abuja resident, informed newsmen that the visit was to seek Anenih’s advice on ways to reposition the party.

    “If there are two founding fathers, Cheif Anenih is one. Therefore, as a father, I came to consult with him.

    “I came to tell him that this is the situation we are. He as a father who formed this party, should help us on how to reposition the party to the period of 1999.

    “Baba has given us kind and fatherly advice on all matters,’’ Sheriff said.

    Anenih, a former Board of Trustees Chairman of PDP, who declined comment on advice he offered to Sheriff, said it was a meeting between father and sons.

    “I have spoken to my son. He will speak with others,’’ Sheriff said.

    Also speaking with newsmen, the Vice Chairman of PDP, Dr Cairo Ojougboh said that the visit was part of efforts by Sheriff-led leadership to re-unite members of the party.

    He said that the consultation with party leaders across the country would continue.

    “We are doing this in order to come up with a formidable party,’’ he said.

    Asked if the Sheriff group actually broke into the party secretariat as insinuated by the party caretaker committee members, Ojougboh said it was not true.

    He said that after the Court of Appeal judgment, the court served the police, and the Directorate of State Security Service the judgment.

    “Mr Chairman did not break in, it was police who locked the secretariat that re-opened it,’’ he said.

    Sheriff had on Thursday evening re-opened the secretariat which had been under lock since May 2016.

  • Court restrains Sheriff from acting as PDP Chairman

    Court restrains Sheriff from acting as PDP Chairman

    …….Uphold an earlier judgment voiding his emergence

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Kubwa, Abuja has restrained Ali Modu Sheriff from further parading as National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and acting or taking decisions on its behalf.

    Justice Nwamaka Ogbonnaya, in a judgment Wednesday, held among others, that by virtue of the June 29, 2016 judgment by Justice Valentine Ashi (of the Apo division of High Court of the FCT), the appointment of Sheriff and other members of his Executive of the party remains voided.

    Justice Ashi had, in the judgment in a suit filed by Joseph Jero, marked: FCT/HC/CV/1867/2016, voided the amendment to Article 47(6) of the PDP constitution, on which basis Sheriff and his Executive emerged at the convention held by the party on December 10 and 11, 2o15.

    Justice Ogbonnaya said there was no evidence before her that the judgment by Justice Ashi had been appealed. She said even if appealed, mere filing of an appeal against a judgment cannot act as a stay of the judgment’s execution.

    She said the judgment by Justice Ashi remained valid until it is set aside by an appellate court, and that parties affected by the judgement and orders made in it are bound by the said orders and declarations.

    The Wednesday’s judgment read by Justice Ogbonnaya for over one hour, starting from 5pm, was on a suit filed on August 9, 2016 by Danladi Ayuba, who claimed to be a PDP member and an aspirant to the post of National Leader of the party at its convention scheduled for Port Harcourt.

    Justice Ogbonnaya, who granted all the reliefs by the plaintiff, and made an order “setting aside and or nullified the act or conduct of the defendant (Sheriff) as National Chairman of the PDP or anything done by him in the name or on behalf of the party for being unlawful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”

    The judge also ordered that Sheriff cannot lawfully and legally instruct any counsel for. Or on behalf of the PDP, convene any meeting of the party; conduct any congress/primary for the purposes of nominating the party’s candidates for any election.

    She further granted an order setting aside all acts by Sheriff subsequent to the judgment of June 29 by Justice Ashi, for being unlawful, illegal and void.

    Justice Ogbonnaya declared among others, that by virtue of the June 29 judgment nullifying the amendment to the PDP’s constitution (on which basis Sheriff became the party’s national Chairman), he “cannot lawfully continue to parade himself as the National Chairman, act or do anything in the name and on behalf of the PDP.”

    Earlier before the judgment, the judge dismissed all applications filed by Sheriff’s lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, including a notice of preliminary objection.

    Sheriff had argued, in his objection that he was not aware of the case, in which he was the sole defendant, until late Tuesday night when photo copies of the originating processes were brought to his attention.

    He queried the plaintiff’s locus standi, the competence of the suit and the jurisdiction of the court to hear it.

    While dismissing the objection, Justice Ogbonnaya held that the plaintiff effected proper service of the processes on the defendant have executed substituted service by pasting the documents at the PDP headquarters, Wadata House, Abuja.

    She dismissed all the objections raised by Sheriff and assumed jurisdiction over the matter.

    Shortly after the judge’s ruling, Oluyede urged the judge to adjourn to give his client time to react to the main suit, a request Justice Ogbonnaya rejected.

    Sensing that the judge was bent on delivering the judgment, Oluyede urged the judge to recuse herself from the case on the grounds that she has exhibited bias and had denied his client fair hearing.

    The judge held that she was convinced that Sheriff was properly served and that he was aware of the hearing slated for August 16, but elected not to attend.

    She also held that Sheriff chose only to file preliminary objection when he had the time to file a counter affidavit to the originating summons.

    The judge, having dismissed all applications by Sheriff’s lawyer, including the one asking her to disqualify herself, Justice Ogbonnaya proceeded to read the judgment, which she had reserved the previous day, for delivery Wednesday.

     

     

  • 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.