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Tag: Senator Ahmed Makarfi

  • PDP: Sheriff raises hope on reconciliation

    PDP: Sheriff raises hope on reconciliation

    Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has expressed the willingness to join others in resolving the leadership crisis in the opposition party.n

    At a media briefing in Abuja Thursday night, Sheriff said his camp would be nominating 14 members that would hold discussions with the Caretaker Committee headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

    “It is true that we agreed to find a lasting solution to the crisis. I was out of the country and that is why I did not go with Makarfi to meet with members of the National Assembly.

    “We are going to set up a 28-man committee to prepare a way forward. The committee will be inaugurated on Tuesday.

    “We are compiling the list. It is true that we have reached understanding but there is no position paper from anywhere.

    “We must allow people to choose their leaders. We will not deviate from what the common man wants us to do,” he said.

    Sheriff attributed the crisis in the PDP to lack of internal democracy, saying what was happening was a lesson for everybody to learn.

    “We must allow people and party owners from the ward level, to choose their leaders.

    “We are doing what the common man wants us to do and we will not deviate from that,” he added.

    He blamed the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) for the lingering crisis, saying that the BoT had taken sides with the Makarfi committee in the crisis.

    According to him, the BoT members should not take position on any matter; “If there is a problem they should call everybody and resolve it”.

    “When we are constituting our committee, we can pick from the BoT. Every interest will be represented”.

    Sheriff insisted that Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim remained the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ondo state. The candidate presented by the Makarfi committee is the one recognized by INEC.

    “As a party, we have taken our decision, we have chosen Jimoh Ibrahim as our candidate and whatever the law says we would follow it. We are products of the rule of law”, he said.

  • PDP: Fayose, Ikpeazu differ on peace move

    PDP: Fayose, Ikpeazu differ on peace move

    Two governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday disagreed on the peace move that was announced by the two feuding factions of the party led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

    The two factions of the party had on Tuesday announced their decision to bury the hatchet and work together in order to enable the party perform its role as a viable opposition platform.

    Both factions disclosed their intention to embark on extensive consultations with their respective loyalists to fashion out a way to cement the new unity after about four months of bitter rivalry.

    Governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, who spoke separately on the issue with State House correspondents at the end of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, differed on the necessity of the reconciliation move.

    While Fayose rejected it and stressed that it is only the Court of Appeal that can resolve the party’s leadership crisis, Ikpeazu described it as a step in the right direction.

    According to Fayose, the PDP state governors have not been briefed on the reconciliation move while the cases in court have not been withdrawn.

    He said: “That move, you see, I’m not against anything called resolution within the party but everybody must wait for Court of Appeal to resolve this matter.

    “Matters are in court, nobody has withdrawn any matter and they are resolving. What are you resolving?

    “When matters are in court you, allow court to lay them to rest. The moment this thing doesn’t go with one side, they will tell you were are still in court.

    “But allow the court to take a stand and reconciliation would be made easy. I’m not against anybody reconciling with each other, but when you see that meeting, ask the coverners if the governors were briefed.

    “I was not briefed. I am not the only person in the party, but I think I have a stake.”

    On whether the cases in court cannot be withdrawn during reconciliation, he replied: “Let’s wait till then. But my opinion is the Court of Appeal must resolve this matter.

    “When you resolve the matter, you know that I am wrong and I you are right and reconciliation will be made easy.” He said.

    Abia governor said that the new reconciliation move will be a victory for the party and Nigeria at the end of the day.

    Noting that the long period of the crisis had taken a toll on the party, he said that it had also provided it with new opportunities to become stronger.

    Ikpeazu said: “In every crisis there are downsides because nobody will wish and pray for the crisis. I think also that moment of crisis are also opportunities for strength, renewed vigor and to reinvent our vision.

    “So, ultimately, I think the PDP has the resilience and what it takes to bounce back as a party.”

    On how to secure the support of its founding fathers and others who may have left the party, he said the party will work to bring everybody back on board.

    He went on: “There is no doubt that party politics everywhere involves everybody, whether you are a founding father or a new member. A political party is built around people and everybody has a equal stake.

    “Our interest is Nigeria. Therefore, all strata of people, an opinion I think will be put into consideration because they are equally important.

    “The important thing is Nigeria and the important thing is democracy. Whether you are a BoT member or a party person, it doesn’t really matter. PDP Governors Forum is not a political party,” he added.

  • PDP Convention: National Executive Committee inaugurated

     

    The National Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi has inaugurated the National Executive Committee of the party.

    Performing the inauguration at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Senator Makarfi said that the National Executive Committee (NEC), include the Board: The PDP Governors, National Assembly Caucus, Board of Trustees, National Caucus, 36 State PDP chairmen and national officers of the Party.

    He said in the absence of the elected National officers, the National Caretaker Committee members will be part of NEC.

    The National Caretaker Committee Chairman said that the National Caretaker Committee members seize to be NEC members once national officers are elected.

    At the meeting were PDP Governors, National Assembly Caucus, Board of Trustees, National Caucus, 36 State PDP chairmen and national Caretaker Committee members of the Party.

    The meeting has gone into a closed session. Journalists will be briefed subsequently.

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

    PDP crisis: Makarfi faults Sheriff’s position on convention

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “The said ruling did not anywhere direct INEC to do anything or not to do anything, to discharge or not to discharge any obligation; to perform any function or not to perform any function.

    “In essence, it is a mere legal tale and the Order having been made without any application before him by either of the parties has no foundation in law”.

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

    “That judgment has not been set aside. It is still valid and subsisting. And no court of coordinate jurisdiction, including the Federal High Court, can make any other order with the intention of rendering that judgment ineffective,” Adeyeye added.

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

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

    The resolution also affirmed the Makarfi led Caretaker Committee as the supreme body to run the affairs of the party until another pending the conduct of another convention within 90 days.

    “That being the case, it was therefore the last convention that in fact convened the forthcoming one slated for August 17, 2016, and not the National Caretaker Committee parse. The National Convention is superior to all other organs of the party.

    “We call on INEC to disregard the letter from the former National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his cohorts. It belongs to the garbage bin. He is merely acting the script of his paymasters.

    “The Caretaker Committee will continue with its dogged determination to organize the best National Convention in the history of our great party,” the Makarfi committee said.

  • Kashamu cautions PDP on convention

    Kashamu cautions PDP on convention

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

    In a statement he circulated in Abuja Tuesday, 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 situation.

    The Makarfi committee, backed by the key organs of the party, including the PDP Governors, has 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 further 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.

    He stated that for peace to reign, party leaders and members should stop seeing themselves to be above the law

    “Thus, it is crucial for us to find a political solution to the leadership crisis, unite our people and resolve the issues so that the various court cases can be withdrawn. An assortment of court orders, rulings and judgments will only deepen the crisis and make it intractable,” he added.

    Kashamu enjoined party stakeholders to do the right thing so that when they are called to account for their actions, they will be found on the right side of history and the law.

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

    Again, Makarfi, Sheriff disagree on court’s ruling

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

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

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

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

    He said; “I am indeed happy with the judgment, on the one hand but also sad that it had to come to this.

    “For me there should be no winner or loser on this matter. I am still calling on Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his followers to join us so that we accommodate one another and indeed all other groups in a just, fair and equitable manner with a view to moving the party forward,” Makarfi added.
    But in a swift reaction shortly after the judgment, Sheriff said the ruling by the Port Harcourt court cannot vitiate an earlier judgment delivered by an Abuja High Court which recognised him as the national chairman of the PDP.

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

  • Makarfi, Obi working for APC chieftain – Sheriff

    Makarfi, Obi working for APC chieftain – Sheriff

    There seems to be no let-up in the leadership crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the combatants continue to dig deeper into the trenches.

    The party’s embattled National Chairman; Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff Friday accused the Chairman of the PDP caretaker committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Secretary of the committee, Senator Ben Obi of working for a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Sheriff said the unnamed APC chieftain has been sponsoring Makarfi and Obi have been paying secret visits to the said APC chieftain.

    Makarfi and his committee have continued to insist that Sheriff was being sponsored by the APC for the purpose of destroying the PDP.

    But Sheriff retorted, “If there are people in the PDP working for the APC, it’s Makarfi and Obi. Makarfi should not force me to reveal details that I should not reveal under normal circumstances.

    “Makarfi and Obi have gone to visit this APC chieftain in his house twice and this particular individual is still in the APC. It would have been better if the man had left the APC to join the PDP.

    “They are reserving the 2019 presidential ticket of the PDP for this individual who has been funding their activities. If Makarfi continues to attack my person, I will be forced to reveal further details of their alliance.

    “Everybody in Nigeria knows this particular APC chieftain who wants to contest for president in 2019 on the platform of the PDP. So Makarfi should just shut up”.

    Sheriff had, earlier in the day, received a delegation of PDP chieftains from Plateau state who came to declare support for his leadership.

    The leader of the delegation, Dr. Haruna Dabin said the delegation decided to support Sheriff because he is the only one that can stop the culture of impunity in the PDP.

    Dabin said, “We have decided to stand with Sheriff on the path of truth and the rule of law. We are confident in his ability to heal the wounds in our party”

    The Plateau PDP chief said his group was short-hanged during the last congress held in the state, adding that winners in the congress were handpicked and imposed on the chapter.

    Responding, Sheriff assured them that the congress in Plateau would be revisited, with the view to correcting the mistakes of the past.

    “You cannot put nothing on nothing, so I will never associate myself with what is not right. I will make sure that PDP lives up to its name. So I will work hard to ensure that the right people are elected in Plateau and other states through fresh congresses.”

  • Makarfi takes PDP reconciliatory meeting to National Assembly

    Makarfi takes PDP reconciliatory meeting to National Assembly

    The National Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s National Assembly Caucus met Wednesday in Abuja to further the reconciliatory moves in the embattled party.

    While the PDP Caretaker Committee chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi led his team, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, led the party’s National Assembly caucus to the meeting which held at the National Assembly.

    The meeting led to a vote of confidence on Makarfi and his team as moved by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and seconded by House of Representative Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor.

    Senator Ekweremadu flagged off the parley congratulated Makarfi and his team on their appointment.

    He reminded committee that the PDP is now at an important time in history that required the ingenuity of all members to rebuild the fortunes of party.

    He added that the party had had its fair share of ups and downs “but Nigerians expect much from us.

    He pledged the total loyalty of all members of the caucus to the Caretaker committee to ensure its success.

    Akpabio on his part noted that Nigerians who watched what transpired at the party’s convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital saw the selection and appointment of the Caretaker committee was unanimous.

    He said, “Our party selected the Caretaker Committee and made you, Your Excellency, Makarfi, chairman of the committee. There was no election. The party has the absolute power to inaugurate any committee.

    “You have the power to do anything that will ensure the acceptability of our party by Nigerians. There is no division in PDP, the party is one. What happened in our great party was a storm in a tea cup. We are proud of what you have done to reposition the party.

    “For you to have decided to come and consult with the representatives of the Nigerian people, you have done well. We don’t have Villa, the National Assembly is the Villa of the PDP, you have done well. We will support you 100 per cent to ensure that PDP is fully accepted back.”

    Hon. Ogor reminded Makarfi that the task before him aimed at rebuilding the party is enormous.

    The House of Representatives minority leader further reminded Makarfi that one of his major tasks is to lead the party to a successful convention.

    He added, “We in the House of Representatives pledge our loyalty and assure you that we will be with you day and night to ensure that you succeed. The responsibility is that come 2019, Nigerians will be given the government after their heart. Nigerians have already seen the difference between what and black.”

    Makarfi said that the doctrine of necessity came to play once again at the PDP convention in Port Harcourt.

    He noted that faced with the challenge of bringing harmony and peace to the party, PDP stakeholders had to take certain decisions in Port Harcourt.

    Makarfi said that the Caretaker Committee was inaugurated to heal the wound in the party as well as to bring peace and unity of purpose to the fold.

    He said, “Responsibilities were put on our shoulders. We are not representing any bloc of interest; we are representing PDP, we are here for PDP, we are here for Nigerians.”

    Makarfi said that on Monday, they attended a meeting convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) where they made useful contributions.

    He noted that to have attended a meeting convened by the electoral umpire was indication that peace has returned to the PDP.

    “We are here to say thank you for the roles you played to get us on board. We also ask other members of our great party who may still be aggrieved to join us to rebuild our party. Politics is about the will of the people, the will of the majority. If today stakeholders in our party say we should stay aside, we will stay aside. We have come to tell you that our doors are open all the time,” Makarfi said.

  • PDP: Sherriff’s camp accuses caretaker committee of contempt

    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.”

  • Senate probes ‘missing’ $49.8bn oil fund

    Senate probes ‘missing’ $49.8bn oil fund

    The Senate on Wednesday mandated its committee on Finance to investigate alleged missing $49.8 billion crude oil funds.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators however vowed not to allow the alleged missing money be swept under the carpet.

    Senate President, David Mark, asked the Senator Ahmed Makarfi led Finance Committee to turn in report of the investigation “at the earliest possible time because it requires urgent attention.”

    The resolution to probe the alleged missing money followed a Point of Order raised by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North) on the development.

    Relying on Order 42 which deals with matter of urgent public attention, Adetunmbi drew attention of the Senate to a newspaper publication of “$49.8 billion ‘missing’ oil money.”

    He described the development as “a very grave issue that the parliament owed the public the duty to follow up.”

    He explained that the matter of how the economy was being managed and the issue of oil revenue were raised at a Public Account Committee meeting where they resolved to seek answers to certain questions raised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Adetunmbi said that the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had graciously responded to the inquiries of the committee and offered information and detailed value of crude oil exports and proceeds repatriations.

    The lawmaker noted that the CBN Governor’s response showed clearly the proceeds of crude oil sales which should have accrued to the Federation Account.