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PDP crisis: Adeniran, Bode George, Akinjide, Oladipo on the cards…as party considers S’West for chairmanship

As part of the options of resolving the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), some governors and leaders of the party have started consultations on how to concede the National Chairman to the South West.

The development may lead to the party asking both the sacked National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, to step aside.

The ceding of the slot to the South-West was said to be a midstream approach (otherwise dubbed the third alternative) to the crisis which had been purportedly fuelled by PDP leaders from the North.

It was not immediately clear if the two warring factions will buy into this option.

According to investigation, some governors and leaders of the party have started looking beyond the court to resolve the unending crisis in the PDP.

They said the best alternative will be doing away with Sheriff and Makarfi in order to give peace a chance.

But there were fears that the third option might not be acceptable to either Sheriff or Makarfi.

While Sheriff is adamant that his tenure will end in 2018, Makarfi’s Caretaker Committee has a three-month renewable lifespan.

As at press time, those being considered are a former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George; a former Minister of State for FCT, High Chief Olajumoke Akinjide; the incumbent National Secretary of the PDP, Prof. Wale Oladipo; and a former governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Chief Teslim Folarin.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The way the PDP crisis is going, there might not be an end to it. Some governors and leaders of our party are looking into a midstream approach to it.

“The quickest option is to allow power shift at the chairmanship level to the South West because the key actors in this dispute are from the North. We want a situation whereby there will be no winner, no vanquished.

“If our governors and leaders are in favour of this shift to the South West, we will then prevail on Sheriff and Makarfi for an out-of-court settlement and form a unity National Working Committee (NWC) to manage the affairs of the party.”

A BOT member said: “We are thinking of a solution which will border on neither Sheriff nor Makarfi in order to move the party forward. Even if it will be at the caretaker level, it is better to do away with these two factions.

“But some of us feel that recourse to legal action cannot end the crisis in the PDP. And if we go ahead like this till 2019, all of us will lose out.”

As at press time, Sheriff and Makarfi were yet to meet on how to reconcile because of alleged disagreement on the agenda for the meeting.

June 25, 2016
PDP crisis: Sheriff, Makarfi meet tomorrow as governors split

•INEC relates with only most senior director in PDP, awaits court’s decision
•BOT may lose out

Battle weary Interim Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Ahmed Makarfi and the former acting national chairman, Sen. Modu Ali Sheriff, appear to be ready for truce.

The duo whose fierce claims to the leadership of the party has sharply divided members down the line and forced the police to shut down the party’s secretariat for one week in the first instance, are scheduled to meet tomorrow for talks on resolving the crisis.

Police Inspector General Solomon Arase met with them in Abuja on Friday and told them to end their differences within one week.

He deployed his men to seal off the party’s secretariat for the period.

A highly-placed source said yesterday that the two factions agreed to meet tomorrow for reconciliation and harmonisation.

The source said: “Following a session with the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase and the Director-General of the Department of State Security Service, Mallam Lawal Daura, we have opened up preliminary talks in which we agreed to meet on Monday.

“Neither Sheriff’s camp nor Makarfi’s group has named those who will represent the warring factions on Monday. We will send our list of representatives to the negotiation on or before Monday. Each group is still consulting on who should be part of its team.

“But in view of the bias of the leadership of the Board of Trustees, we don’t want them to play any role in brokering peace.”

Of the party’s 12 state governors, only two – Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) have openly identified with Sheriff, who is from their North-East zone.

Although 10 others are said to be “tactically” with Makarfi, two or three have allegedly pledged loyalty to Sheriff through subterranean channels.

Another party source said: “Governors Ishaku and Dankwambo have identified with Sheriff amidst pursuance of peace in the party. But the other 10 governors have been romancing Makarfi. A few of them however pay nocturnal allegiance to Sheriff. This is the type of politicking which is complicating the crisis in the party.”

Some of the governors allegedly against the candidature of Sheriff include Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti).

Senator Kashamu Buruji, who is one of the backers of Sheriff, has condemned Fayose’s role in the crisis in a letter to the BOT of PDP.

He said: “Some party leaders have all along been acting as a law unto themselves and carrying on with impunity irrespective of whether their actions are in the interest of the Party. Such actions, if not checked, could further stigmatize the Party as a lawless organization.

“It was Governor Fayose who came to me and said we should work for Senator Sheriff. He said I should start a heavy campaign because the governors had decided that he was the only one that could save the party.

“Yet, it was the same Governor Fayose that tricked his colleagues and hijacked the National Convention for his personal interests even in the face of obvious illegalities.”

Another party source said: “Governors Ishaku and Dankwambo have identified with Sheriff amidst pursuance of peace in the party.”

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distanced itself from the two factions in PDP to avoid being accused of bias.

A top official of INEC said the commission has been relating with the most senior director at the PDP National Secretariat on correspondence and party matters.

He said the neutrality will remain until there is a definite decision by the court on the crisis in PDP.

“We took a decision not to deal with either Sheriff or Makarfi. We do not want to be dragged into politics.

“But on correspondence and any issue on political parties, we relate with the most senior director in PDP who will communicate all the groups.

“We are awaiting a definite pronouncement by the court on the challenge in PDP. If the court says we should go with A, we will go with A. If the court orders us to relate with B, we will comply.”

June 19, 2016
‎IGP orders closure of PDP secretariat

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has ordered the shutdown of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat.

Arase also gave the party one week to resolve its crisis.

A statement issued by the Force Spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, said the IGP took the decision at a meeting with stakeholders of the party in Abuja.

“In a bid to finding a lasting solution to the protracted crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, convened a meeting with all stakeholders in his Abuja office on Friday and called for peace among the parties, particularly Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi,

“After exhaustive deliberations, in the meeting that was also attended by the Director-General of Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Musa Daura, each of the factions – Sen Ali Modu Sherif’s and Sen Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi’s-led factions agreed to nominate four representatives, each, for peace talks to arrive at a harmonized position within one week.

“The PDP Secretariat at Wadata House Plaza and Legacy House should be under lock and key pending the outcome of the resolution,” the statement said.

June 17, 2016
PDP crisis: Court to deliver judgement on July 4

Justice Makhmud Liman of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, yesterday adjourned till July 4 for judgment in the matter brought before him by national officers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the May 21 National Convention of the Party.

The Party held parallel conventions in Port Harcourt and Abuja. While acting National Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff convened that of Port Harcourt, the Party’s Elders organised the Abuja meeting. They were to elect their new executives to run the party.

The caretaker chairman approached the Court on May 23 to seek an order of interim injunction stopping Sheriff from parading himself as the National chairman. He also asking the court to validate the Port Harcourt convention which produced the caretaker panel.

Sheriff headed for the court in Abuja to challenge the legality of the Port Harcourt convention hinging it on a purported order by the Abuja conveners to stop that of Port Harcourt.

Justice Liman granted the order, and adjourned the matter till June 7, for hearing.

On June 7, parties filed processes on the fact of the matter and adjourned till yesterday for hearing.

At the resumed session yesterday, parties canvassed their positions and the court adjourned till July 4 for judgment on whether the Port Harcourt convention was illegal or not.

Parties made presentations on their positions. Four motions were filed by both parties. While the plaintiffs – Senators Markafi and Ben Obi filed the originating summons on behalf of the PDP, Senator Sheriff and three others who are the respondents filed three applications. They are: Memorandum of condition appearance, dated and filed on May 26, Motion to discharge the interim order of court, dated May 25 and filed May 26 and notice of pre-notice preliminary objection dated and filed May 26.

Three of the motions were heard. But that bordering on the Ex parte order of interim injunction on Sheriff and co. was not heard. The court agreed that the timeline of 14 days for interim injunction had ended and should therefore not be over flogged.

However, arguing on the originating summons, which bordered on the validity of the Port Harcourt convention and the agreements reached there, counsel for the Plaintiffs, Oladejo Olaminkoran (SAN), urged the court to declare the convention legal, as against the declaration of the defence party.

Moving his motion earlier, Sheriff urged the court to strike the name of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), as plaintiffs in the action, thereby dismissing the entire suit.

He argued that the use of the name of PDP, a corporate entity in the suit by Senators Makarfi and Ben. Obi who are the plaintiffs in the suit, is illegal.

Responding to the application, the plaintiffs said Markafi and Ben Obi are not parties in the matter but the PDP, and that the issue of the legality of the Port Harcourt convention is the main subject matter of the suit as contained in the originating process.

June 17, 2016
Court rules on PDP crisis July 4

Justice Makhmud Liman of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday adjourned till July 4, ruling on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention held last month in the oil city.

The party held a parallel convention in Port Harcourt and Abuja on May 21.

While the Acting National Chairman, Ali Modu-Sheriff, convened the Port Harcourt convention, the party’s elders organised the Abuja meeting.

They were to elect their new executives at the convention.

The conventions however ended in deadlock. Instead of electing new leaders, the convention produced a caretaker committee headed by Senator Markafi, to the chagrin of the ex-Borno State governor who vowed never to relinquish his office in that manner.

Sheriff insisted that he remains the acting chairman of the party.

Makarfi on his part approached the court May 23 to seek an order of interim injunction restraining Sheriff from parading himself as the national chairman of PDP.

They are also asking the court to validate the Port Harcourt convention which produced the caretaker committee.

Justice Liman granted the order and adjourned the matter till June 7 for hearing.

On June 7, parties filed processes on the fact of the matter and the court adjourned the suit till Thursday for hearing.

On Thursday, parties canvassed their position and the court adjourned till June 4 for final judgement on whether the Port Harcourt convention is illegal or not.

Parties made presentations on their positions. Four motions were filed by the both parties. While Markafi and Ben Obi filed the originating summons on behalf of the PDP, Sheriff and three others who are respondents filed three applications.

They applications are – memorandum of condition appearance, dated and filed on May 26, motion to discharge the interim order of court, dated May 25 and filed May 26 and notice of pre-notice preliminary objection dated and filed on May 26.

Three of the motions were heard. But the one bordering on the experte order of interim injunction on Sheriff and co was not heard.

The court agreed that the timeline of 14 days for interim injunction has ended and should therefore not be over flogged.

However arguing on the originating summons, which bordered on the validity of the Port Harcourt convention and the agreements reached there, counsel for the plaintiffs, Oladejo Olaminkoran, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged the court to declare the convention legal, as against the declaration of the defence party.

In his argument, Olaminkoran claimed that the convention was legally convened and by the right persons empowered by the party constitution to do so and therefore should be upheld.

“One of the reasons we have come to court is that only the court of law can declare a particular action as legal or illegal, but the position of the PDP is that the convention was lawful, legal, backed by the PDP convention and was convened by the body that is constitutionally empowered to call such convention, the National Executive Committee of the party which included at that time Sheriff and who was the Acting National chairman and the National Party Secretary, who are the main respondent in this suit.”

Moving his motion earlier, Sheriff urged the court to strike out the name of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), as plaintiffs in the action, thereby dismissing the entire suit.

He argued that the use of the name of PDP, a cooperate entity in the suit by Makarfi and Ben Obi who are the plaintiffs in the suit is illegal.

“The reason for the submission is because, the use of the PDP corporate entity as a plaintiff to commence this action by Senators Makarfi and Ben Obi, is predicated on the illegal usurpation of the functions of the appropriate members of the party. The caretaker committee which they claim to lead is an illegal contraction, set up by their own admission on May 21, 2016 in defiance of express prohibitory orders of this honourable court, made respectively in suit numbers, FHC/ CS/ 613/ 2016 and FHC/ SUS/637/2016 on May 12 and 16, 2016, and by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High courts judgements on suits number FTC/HC/1443/2016.

“We also seek that the court make an order dismissing this action for reason of ex-facia illegality represented in the title of the action and their admission of those who are behind the use of the name of PDP as plaintiff in this action that their authority to represent the political party and to invoke its cooperate personality is contested and requires validation by this court’s orders, which they seek.

“Also that this suit be dismissed by reason of ex-facia illegality as the right sought to enforce this action and the assumed personal rights of Markafi and Ben Obi and other members of the Illegal CTC which they lead and not at all the cooperate right of the PDP.

“And finally, for such ancillary and inconsequential orders as this court may deem fit to make in the circumstances,” he said.

He expressed confidence on the grounds of the application, the affidavits and exhibits annexed in the documents and urged the court to grant his application and remove the name of PDP from the suit.

Earlier, the plaintiff had insisted that the three processes be dismissed for incompetence, but the court overruled the position and upheld them.

But in his ruling, the judge upheld the application filed by the defence for amendment, saying that striking out the processes would delay quick determination of the suit and strengthen the power of technicality in legal battle.

“In which case where no application is filed to set aside the irregularity or was not filed timeously, the court might view the party to have weaved his right to complain.

“Where however an application to set aside have been properly filed, the court has a range of options in the exercise of his discretion either to set aside the process, wholly or partially or the order amendment subject to cause of amendment.

“In the instant case, the plaintiff has not shown what prejudice it will suffer if the motion to amend the defect is granted, more so that this being a political case in which a major political party is battling with its life, which calls for conscientious efforts to address the legal conflict expeditiously.

“I think to strike out the processes filed will roll back the entire proceedings to the beginning, and this will signal the triumph of technicality and tragic expense of substantial justice.

“In the like of the above analysis, I dismiss the motion to strike out the three processes filed and grant the application for amendment.”

He recalled that Justices Idris J. and Buba J. of the Federal High courts in Lagos had made earlier orders on this matter, adding that Justice Buba J. in his order warned that no election should be conducted into the office until the matter before him was disposed of.

Quoting Idris, the judge also said, “Do not take steps that will affect the rest of the action before him.” The ‘rest’ he interpreted as the conduct of the National Convention of the Party. While the FCT High court stated that the tenureship of Modu-Sheriff’s Executives will run till 2018.”

He described as share expertise illegality for people to conspire to subvert the orders of the court and urged the court to grant his application and make an order to remove the name of the PDP from the suit.

Responding to the application, the plaintiffs said Markafi and Ben Obi are not parties in the matter but the PDP, and that the issue of the legality of the Port Harcourt convention is the main subject matter of the suit as contained in the originating process.

He admitted that the Abuja court noted that the Modu-Sheriff’s tenureship would continue till the end of 2018, but stated that it (the court), also stated that it is dependent on the conduct of election by the party into the office of the chairman.

“Justice A. D. Mohammad in his judgement stated that Modu-Sheriff’s tenure is not until 2018, but pending the election into the vacant office of the chairman of PDP.”

He noted that by the statement, the court automatically declared the office of the chairman party vacant.

Laminkoran also recalled that the judgement of the court equally ruled that the Port Harcourt convention which the plaintiff (Sheriff), sought to stop cannot be stopped and that the notice of the convention cannot be set aside.

He noted that the same relieve Sheriff sought for in Abuja was the same thing he canvassed for at the Lagos court, describing it as abuse of court process.

June 16, 2016
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.”

June 15, 2016
Sheriff takes over PDP headquarters

The ousted National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, on Monday staged a dramatic return to the national secretariat of the party to resume official duties.

Sheriff stormed the party’s office in company of the erstwhile National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, ousted National Auditor, Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju and a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak, among other supporters.

Initial attempt by the party chiefs to enter the building as early as 9:00am was blocked by policemen manning the gate, apparently on the orders of the Ahmed Makarfi -led caretaker committee.

Undeterred, Sheriff went to confer with the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, at the Force Headquarters and got permission to be allowed into the building.

Briefing journalists on arrival at the secretariat, Sheriff said his tenure as chairman remained valid till December 2018, dismissing the caretaker committee as an illegal body.

He said, “After due consultations with serious minded stakeholders of the party and my lawyers, against the background that I have remained committed to lawful procedures, I have come, fully armed with all the necessary court orders to resume as national chairman, as directed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“As we settle down to move the party forward, we wish to call on all party members within and outside the country to come around so that we can together reposition the PDP for future challenges.

“We have to this served the necessary court orders on the Independent National Electoral Commission which is the impartial arbiter in matters like this, the police as custodians of the law and we will make same available to you gentlemen of the press, so that you can make informed analysis of the issues involved. We hereby seek your own cooperation as we continue the task of re-engineering the PDP.

“I wish to use this opportunity to thank all those who stood on the side of the truth and the law, and wish to place on record that never again shall the PDP return to wallow in lawlessness and impunity.”

Only last week, key party organs, including the governors, Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Assembly caucus had handed over the affairs of the party to the caretaker committee.

But Sheriff said the caretaker committee is alien to the PDP constitution and that if there was any need for setting up such a committee, he, as chairman, ought to have presided over the exercise.

“Against this backdrop, I hereby declare as null, void and of no consequence whatsoever, any action taken by any person or group of persons, except by my leadership which is recognised by law,” he declared.

June 13, 2016
PDP: Sherriff’s camp accuses caretaker committee of contempt

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) crisis may deepen as the Ali Modu Sheriff’s camp is set to initiate contempt proceedings against the caretaker committee headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi at the Federal High Court in Lagos, it was learnt Tuesday.

The party’s National Secretary Prof Wale Oladipo and Deputy National Legal Adviser Bashir Maidugu said the caretaker committee remains illegal and lack powers to run PDP’s affairs.

Sheriff, Oladipo and National Auditor Alhaji Fatai Adeyanju had obtained an order of interlocutory injunction restraining PDP from conducting any election into the offices of the national chairman, national secretary and national auditor which they occupy, pending the hearing and determination of their substantive suit pending before Justice Ibrahim Buba.

But, while the order was subsisting and the suit pending, the caretaker committee was appointed.

Oladipo, in a statement Tuesday, described the caretaker committee as a group of lawbreakers.

According to him, it was “very wrong” for the committee to take over PDP’s headquarters (also known as Wadata House).

He said: “Sherrif is out of the country and will be back tomorrow (today). The law breakers are in Wadata deceiving themselves. The law will take its course in the next one week.”

Maidugu said the caretaker committee was acting in defiance of subsisting court orders.

“It should be noted that the orders granted by the Federal High Court in Lagos has not been vacated and no appeal has been determined on same. There is an enforcement order granted by the FCT High Court in pursuance of her judgment of the 18th of May 2016

“The Makarfi committee is simply illegal. It was constituted in violation of the two high court rulings,” he said.

Sheriff and Oladipo, through their lawyer Ajibola Oluyede, yesterday sought to move their motion to set aside the order made by Justice M. Liman of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on May 23, which recognised the caretaker committee.

They are also praying the court to strike out PDP as plaintiff because the caretaker committee lacks the powers to invoke the party’s corporate personality. The defendants are also challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

According to Oluyede, the proceedings were stalled because the plaintiff was not ready with a response to the three applications, which he said were served on them five days ago.

The motion to discharge the order was filed on May 26 and will lapse Thursday (June 9).

Oluyede said the “invasion” of the PDP national headquarters Tuesday by “the illegitimate caretaker committee is an illegality” and will be brought to Justice Buba’s attention when the case comes up Thursday.

The case before Justice Liman was adjourned till June 16 for hearing of all applications and the originating summons.

Sheriff, in a statement Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Inuwa Bwala, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the activities at the National secretariat of the PDP to the effect that some individuals masquerading as leaders have handed over to Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi under a contraption called ‘caretaker committee’.

“We state as a matter of fact that going by proceedings still pending in the courts to the effect that Senator Ali Sheriff remains the National Chairman, whatever transpired was null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

“Sheriff has not mandated anybody, nor was his authority obtained by Uche Secondus, who has been parading himself as acting on behalf of the National Chairman.

“While we await the verdicts of the courts, we wish to state that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is and remains the National Chairman of the party, until otherwise declared by the courts.

“We allowed the charade to go on at the secretariat without any form of challenge in strict obedience to careful pronouncement on the matter, but we must also state that there is no gathering of groups or individuals, however powerful, such groups or individuals may be, that can be said to take precedence over the law.

“For the avoidance of doubts, we state categorically that what took place at the PDP secretariat on Tuesday June 7, 2016 was a total disregard to court orders and an extension of the impunity for which the party has been accused of and which has taken the party to where it is today. The public should disregard all the actions and pronouncements.”

June 7, 2016
PDP crisis: BoT raises three-man panel to meet Sheriff
•Why I called off convention, by chair

Nearly two weeks after the botched Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, embattled factional chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has explained why he took a last-minute decision to call off the event.

He said he only acted in deference to a court order that elections should not be conducted into three offices of the party – national chairman, national secretary and national auditor.

According to him, if he had not acted swiftly to suspend the convention, it would have been an outright disregard for the judiciary. He referred to an earlier letter addressed to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), wherein the party was advised to obey a Lagos Federal High Court injunction.

In the letter, dated 16th of May, 2016 and addressed to Sheriff as national chairman of the party, INEC had warned that it would not monitor elections into the three seats under contention, pending the determination of the case by the court.

Subsequently, Sheriff, on the 20th of May, 2016, replied INEC, announcing the suspension of the convention in line with the court order. Part of the letter read “Consequently, the National Working Committee of the party, decided to abide by these court pronouncements and postpone the said convention.

“Your letter dated 16th of May,? 2016, informing the party that INEC would not monitor elections into the offices of the national chairman, national secretary and national auditor during our planned national conference refers.

“You also informed us that any officers elected into those offices would not be accorded any recognition by your commission. This in compliance with the court order of the Federal High Court on the tenure of the incumbents of these offices.

“The party also received the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, upholding the tenure of 18 national officers of the party till 2017 and 2018.

“Therefore, the incumbent national officers elected during the 2013 and 2014 special national conventions remain in office till 2017 and 2018 respectively.”

The former Borno state governor clarified that his target and vision for the opposition party is to rebuild it , explaining that he has no inordinate ambition as being peddled by some aggrieved elements in the party.

Further explaining his dream for the PDP, he declared that his plans remains to position the party in a good pedestal where it can successfully wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. In line with this objective, Sheriff said plans were already in place to begin a nationwide consultation that will bring every aggrieved member together.

PDP Governors on the platform of the party and other stakeholders, had on the 21st of May, 2016 in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, removed the national working committee of the party and in its place, appointed a former governor of Kaduna state, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

While the convention was ongoing in Port-Harcourt, a parallel convention was held in Abuja. The parallel convention was spearheaded by former minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana.

Sheriff’s leadership has filed a suit challenging the move.

Worried by the worsening crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), the Board of Trustees (BoT) has raised a three-man team to meet with sacked Acting National Chairman Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff.

The team is likely to meet Sheriff today in Abuja.

But the party’s National Secretariat remains under lock and key because Sheriff and the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, have not agreed on who should take control of the place.

Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase was awaiting the agreement by the two leaders, who are laying claim to the national chairman before reopening the secretariat.

The BOT agreed with the stakeholders to raise the three-man panel to avert the degenerating situation in the party, it was learnt.

Members of the panel are Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Education Minister Tunde Adeniran and House Minority Leader Leo Ogor.

According to a source in the party, the panel is expected to:
- prevail on Sheriff to be “a true party man” by placing the PDP above anything;
- implore Sheriff to withdraw all cases in court – in deference to the internal party mechanism for addressing such issues; and
- find amicable ways of resolving all pending issues.
The source said: “The three-man team will meet Sheriff in Abuja on Tuesday (Today) because if we go on like this, the PDP might not survive this crisis.

“We believe the panel can agree on workable solutions with Sheriff whose suits in court may draw PDP backward and tear it apart.

“We are hopeful that we will come out of this crisis stronger, if Sheriff cooperates with the panel.”

On Friday, Sheriff and 17 members of the National Working Committee (NWC) rushed to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory seeking the declaration of Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee illegal.

They said their tenure will end on December 11, 2018 since a former National Chairman of PDP, Ahmed Mua’zu, whose mandate they inherited was elected at a Special National Convention on December 10th and 11th, 2014.

They also asked the court to set aside the decision of penultimate Saturday’s National Convention of the PDP.

In an affidavit, which Sheriff personally deposed to, the ex-governor, through his counsel, Alex A. Izinyon (SAN), sought an ex-parte order to stop Makarfi from leading a Caretaker Committee which he alleged was unknown to the PDP’s Constitution.

But Makarfi on Saturday said going to court might not help in resolving the crisis.

While hosting Governor Henry Seriake Dickson in Kaduna, Makarfi urged all aggrieved PDP leaders to give reconciliation a chance.

He said: “Litigation may just give you a legal victory but it may not give you a permanent peace and harmony amongst your family.

“We need to reconcile; we need to acknowledge where we went wrong. It is a good virtue to say sorry…”

The National Secretariat of PDP yesterday remained shut.

The Nation learnt that when Makarfi and Sheriff met with Arase last week, it was resolved that they should meet and agree on who should manage the secretariat.

A police source said: “The ultimate objective of the IGP was to prevent acts capable of disrupting the peace of Abuja, which is the nation’s capital.

“So, Sheriff and Makarfi had a session with IGP. It was agreed that the two leaders should go and agree that there won’t be any problem.

“Their decision will determine which of the factions is going to have access to the National Secretariat of the party.

“But, as at Sunday, the two leaders have not agreed on any mutually beneficial solution.

“We will give them up till Friday to respond to the IGP’s mediation target. They may get back this week.”

Responding to a question, the highly- placed source said: “If there is no agreement by the two sides, the secretariat may remain shut, unless a court says otherwise.

“Our main concern is that we don’t want them to disrupt the peace of Abuja.”

There were indications last night that the two factions may end up in court to determine the occupant of the PDP National Secretariat.

“We will follow legal process to repossess the PDP National Secretariat, “ a party stalwart in Makarfi’s camp said.
May 31, 2016
PDP crisis: what next for Sherrif?

•Woos state party chairmen, BoT members

IN spite of announcement by a faction of the party led by its serving Governors, that former Governor Ahmed Makarfi is the new acting national Chairman of the troubled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has insisted he remains the authentic boss of the PDP. The former Borno State Governor said no convention of the party was held in Port-Harcourt as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not monitor the exercise.

His decision, which was made known to journalists yesterday, has further thrown the party into confusion with another group, led by ex-Ministers of the party, empowering a committee led by former Minister, Jerry Gana, to take over the leadership of the party in caretaker capacity. Sheriff, The Nation learnt, enjoys the backing of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) his resolve to continue in office despite the fact that the tenure of his executive committee ended yesterday.

The Nation also gathered from reliable sources that the acting chairman and other National Working Committee members loyal to him have decided to resist any attempt to remove them from their various offices at the national secretariat.

“This is a matter for you all to judge. If the Court says no to convention and INEC advised that we shelf the plans, what would now happen to the leadership of the party? It cannot be empty. In cases like this, it is always time to maintain the status quo. Sheriff remains in charge until such a time when the convention can be held. It is impossible to just manufacture a new acting leadership from nowhere.

“INEC said no to Port-Harcourt convention. The people in Abuja are not even known to either law or common sense. They are jesters seeking attention and we know those pulling their strings. The governors who stage managed the emergence of Makarfi are respected politicians who know the implications of their actions. It is left for us to defend democracy and rule of law by refusing to be stampeded out of our offices at the national secretariat,” our source said.

Reacting to reported emergence of a new acting chairman and a caretaker committee for the party, Sheriff said he would remain in office until all the court cases, which led to the cancellation of the planned national convention of the PDP, are resolved. He insisted that his only reason for suspending the convention was because INEC had declined to supervise the election.

“We are confronted with a lot of challenges, the challenges are mostly court cases to stop our convention from taking place. After seeing the challenges confronting our party, taken into account the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, not to supervise the elections to the office of chairman, secretary and other offices, based on the order of the court.

“On account of the fact that our party is responsible, law abiding with high respect for judiciary and courts, we do hereby state and put off the national convention of our party from taking place. We have suspended it until when all the court cases are being resolved. The issues are so many. We have about three different court cases. From Abuja, where it says that the tenure of the 17 members of the National Working Committee has not expired, it will be expiring on the 17 of June, 2017 and another one in Lagos which says that the tenure of the chairman, secretary and auditor will expire in 2018.

“INEC also wrote that they will not supervise the election in Port Harcourt. Taking into consideration of all these, if we go out and conduct elections in Port Harcourt, the NEC of the party will be charged for contempt of court. We have asked for stay of proceedings in Lagos yesterday (Friday) and the court denied that also. Therefore, the best and safest way is to put off the convention. Therefore, we have suspended the convention until all the court cases are resolved. We will then announce another date for the convention.” While he advised delegates to return to their respective states, the former governor of Borno State said

“We have advised all the delegates to go home that there is no convention. We do not want to disrespect the law, we are law abiding and that is the decision until the courts decide. The bone of contention is that there is no space for election. Therefore, we will wait and sit in the office of the national chairman of the party and wait until all decisions of the courts are resolved. Whatever the decision the court takes, we will be law abiding,” Sheriff told reporters.

Sources close to the embattled PDP boss said he will soon be reaching out to certain party organs in a last ditch effort to save his job. The Nation gathered that Sheriff met briefly with some BoT members and other party leaders shortly after the convention was canceled and it was resolved that a stakeholders’ meeting of the party should be held as soon as possible to decide the way forward.

“We will be reaching out to the real owners of the party to allow them decide what happens next. What happened in Port Harcourt and Abuja are not the decision of the members of the party. And that is why a stakeholders’ meeting is important at a time like this. We must allow the members to decide how the party should be administered, and since the convention was cancelled, we will find another way to get to the members soon,” our source said.

The Nation learnt that efforts are already on to court the support of chairmen of the state chapters of the party in a bid to get them to endorse the continued stay of Sheriff in office until another convention is held.

“We can tell you categorically that most of the party chairmen in the various states left Port-Harcourt immediately the convention was called off. They are on the same page with us and they are the people who can say who should led the party,” our source said.

May 22, 2016