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Tag: Sheriff

Sheriff to Makarfi: I don’t need your amnesty

The sacked National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, has rejected the amnesty extended to him and his loyalists by the party new leadership.

Following Wednesday’s judgment of the Supreme Court that sacked Sheriff and affirmed Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the authentic leader of the PDP, Makarfi had declared amnesty for Sheriff and his loyalists.

According to Makarfi, the party will throw its doors open to all members that opposed his leadership and worked against the collective interest of the party.

But in a reaction on Friday, Sheriff took exceptions to Makarfi’s offer, describing it as reckless.

The ex-PDP chairman said he did not commit any crime against the party to warrant being given amnesty.

In a statement issued by the spokesman of his group, Mr. Bernard Mikko, Sheriff insisted that he was validly elected as chairman of the party in 2016.

The statement said: “I take exceptions to the reckless statement credited to Prince Dayo Adeyeye suggesting the granting of amnesty to Sen Ali Modu Sheriff, his National Working Committee and supporters.

“Amnesty is a reprieve for those who have committed offence under our statutes. We did not occupy the office illegally or committed any offence. Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff was validly elected and was forced to vacate the National Secretariat after a joint meeting of the contending camps with the Inspector General of Police in the wake of thuggery attacks in the heat of conflicting court pronouncements.

“However, the office was officially re-opened for us after we presented the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement of Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt division, to the Inspector General of Police.

“I am therefore concerned about the future of our party in the hands of some of those who are known to have pending criminal cases bordering on fraud, treasury looting and dishonesty with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in our land and we await the copy of the full judgement delivered on July 12, 2017.

“No one owns the party and those making unguarded and reckless statements in the public domain should realise that the solution to the problem of Nigeria is beyond any political association. Unacceptable and unjustifiable means cannot lead to a justifiable and acceptable end.”

July 14, 2017
Sheriff was a distraction, says Makarfi

THE Ahmed Makarfi-led leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the party’s sacked National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, as a distraction that threatened the PDP existence.

Addressing reporters in Abuja yesterday, PDP spokesman Prince Dayo Adeyeye said the erstwhile chairman put the party through extremely difficult situation for the 14 months the leadership crisis lasted.

“The distraction caused by Sheriff and his loyalists put us under intense pressure to a point that we could not pay salaries of secretariat staff while the crisis lasted,” Adeyeye added.

Among others, he blamed Sheriff for the party’s loss of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, where Sheriff fielded parallel candidates against the party’s choices.

According to him, the task of uniting factions created by Sheriff in the various state chapters has become a difficult one that would require a great deal of wisdom for the party’s leadership to accomplish.

The party spokesman said doing justice to the numerous distortions created by the former chairman would certainly hurt some groups and individuals, who benefited from the illegal parallel structures erected by Sheriff in some states.

“On the way forward, we are going to do justice that some people may certainly not be happy with because doing justice might hurt some people, particularly those occupying certain positions illegally. These people will surely lose their positions,” Adeyeye hinted.

Some of the states, where parallel structures were erected by Sheriff during his 14-month reign included Ondo, Anambra, Imo, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Lagos, Adamawa, Kaduna, among others.

Adeyeye, however, announced what he described as “general amnesty” for Sheriff and his loyalists under the new leadership, warning, however, that further infractions after the amnesty window would attract the appropriate sanctions.

The party spokesman lamented that the distraction caused by Sheriff’s recalcitrance affected the focus and sense of direction of the PDP in its role as an opposition party.

He accused the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) of unprecedented arrogance and impunity in the running of the country, saying the PDP now has a solid platform to take on the party in government.

Adeyeye said: “Now, we are in the position to offer viable opposition. The APC should be prepared for a virile and credible opposition; the type they gave us before the 2015 general elections.

“With the Supreme Court judgment, Nigerians now look up to the PDP as an alternative platform to actualise their hopes and aspirations. We are going to roll out our programmes in the days ahead, after due consultations with all stakeholders.”

The Makarfi group, however, still operates from locations outside the party’s national secretariat, even after taking control of the building on the strength of Wednesday’s judgment of the Supreme Court.

“We cannot move into the secretariat building now because we need to clean up the place, physically and otherwise,” Adeyeye said.

In a delayed reaction to the court’s judgment, Sheriff, through a statement yesterday by the spokesman of his now defunct faction, Mr. Bernard Mikko, said the verdict came as a shock.

“Though we still await the full written judgement of the highest court from our lawyers, who will fully brief us on the details of the judgment; in the interim, we ask all members and supporters to remain steadfast in prayers for Nigeria.

“Meanwhile, we continue with our avowed demands that the party must be given back to the owners at the grassroots to always elect their party officials and those to contest elections for them at all levels. Internal democracy must be institutionalised in the party,” the statement said.

July 14, 2017
Sheriff was a distraction – Makarfi

The Ahmed Makarfi –led leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmed Makarfi, has described the sacked National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, as a distraction that threatened the very existence of the party.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, spokesman of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the erstwhile chairman put the party in extremely difficult situation throughout the 14 months the leadership crisis lasted.

“The distraction caused by Sheriff and his loyalists put us under intense pressure to a point that we could not pay salaries of secretariat staff while the crisis lasted,” Adeyeye added.

Among others, he blamed Sheriff for the party’s defeats in the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections where Sheriff fielded parallel candidates against the party’s choices.

According to him, the task of uniting factions created by Sheriff in the various state chapters has become a difficult one that would require a great deal of wisdom for the party leadership to accomplish.

The party spokesman said doing justice to the numerous distortions created by the former chairman would certainly hurt some groups and individuals who benefited from the illegal parallel structures erected by Sheriff in some states.

“On the way forward, we are going to do justice that some people may certainly not be happy with because doing justice might hurt some people, particularly those occupying certain positions illegally. These people will surely lose their positions,” Adeyeye stated.

Some of the states where parallel structures were erected by Sheriff during his 14-month reign included Ondo, Anambra, Imo, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Lagos, Adamawa and Kaduna among others.

Adeyeye, however, announced what he described as “general amnesty” for Sheriff and his loyalists under the new leadership, warning however that further infractions after the amnesty window would attract the appropriate sanctions.

The party spokesman lamented that the distraction caused by Sheriff’s recalcitrance affected the focus and sense of direction of the PDP in its role as an opposition party.

He accused the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) of unprecedented arrogance and impunity in the running of the country, saying the PDP now has a solid platform to take on the APC.

Adeyeye said: “Now we are in the position to offer viable opposition. The APC should be prepared for a virile and credible opposition; the type they gave us before the 2015 general elections.

“With the Supreme Court judgment, Nigerians now look up to the PDP as an alternative platform to actualise their hopes and aspirations. We are going to roll out our programmes in the days ahead, after due consultations with all stakeholders”.

July 13, 2017
Supreme Court declares Makarfi as authentic PDP Chair

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, sacked Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

A five-man panel of the apex court in its judgment delivered on Wednesday, reinstated Ahmed Makarfi, as the authentic National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It can be recalled that the Ahmed Makarfi Led-National Working Committee, NWC, was earlier sacked by the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal.

According to the court, the appointment of Makarfi-led caretaker committee is in line with the constitution of the party.

“The caretaker committee of the PDP led by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi is hereby affirmed as the authentic national leadership of the party.

“The judgment of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division delivered on Feb.27 is hereby set aside,’’ Justice Rhodes-Vivou held.

The panel awarded N250, 000 cost against Sheriff.

Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti and former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau attended the session.

Many party faithful and chieftains including Markafi, Sen. Ben Obi, Chief Bode George, Chief Dayo Adeyeye, Prof. Jerry Gana, among others were also present in court.

The judgment of the apex court unanimously agreed to the lead judgment by Justice Rhodes-Vivour.

Other members of the panel are, Justices Onnoghen, Tanko Muhammad, Kayode Ariwoola and Dattijo Muhammad.

July 12, 2017
Osun West poll: Adeleke’s victory excites Makarfi, Sheriff

•Adeleke: my victory gives hope to Osun PDP in 2018 poll

The victory of Mr Ademola Adeleke in Saturday’s Osun West senatorial district by-election appear to have renewed hopes in the two factions of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ali Modu Sheriff’s leadership and the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the party have continued to bask in the euphoria of the PDP candidate’s victory.

In a statement yesterday by the spokesman of the Makarfi group, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party described the victory as a reflection of the reawakening of Nigerians to the alleged deceit of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

Makarfi mocked the APC, saying the electorate in Osun State rejected the ruling party.

The statement said: “The people have spoken with one voice and we know that Ademola Adeleke will deliver on his promises to the people.

“The successful outcome of this election is an evidence of hard work, dedication and the unity of all members of the PDP in Osun State who buried temporary differences in the overall interest of the party and the good people of Osun State.

“We are confident that without the interference of the APC in the current leadership issues in our party, the PDP remains the party to beat in all elections in Nigeria.

“Even as we await the judgment of the Supreme Court, we urge our members to unite in the interest of Nigerians to rid the country of the horrible APC government.

“Finally, we congratulate the people of Osun West for coming out en mass to vote for our candidate and for their peaceful conduct during the election. We also congratulate our members in Osun State for this important victory.”

In a separate statement, the party’s National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo, said the outcome of the poll reflected the wishes of the electorate.

Oladipo hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the electorate for the peaceful conduct of the poll.

The party’s secretary noted that the peaceful conduct of the by-election rekindled hope in the nation’s electoral system.

He said the PDP’s candidate won the election, despite all odds and the power of incumbency “nakedly displayed” by the APC-controlled state government.

Oladipo attributed the victory to the absence of impunity through which Adeleke was elected, adding that PDP’s leadership refused to impose a candidate for the election.

The statement added: “We have to thank all the stakeholders in the bye election for their peaceful conduct and for allowing the votes of the electorate to count this time around -no tales of inconclusive election.

“We are very happy as a political party. The outcome of the election reflected the wishes of the Osun West senatorial district electorate.

“INEC’s officials, security agencies and the electorate, by their exemplary conduct, have made a great contribution to deepening our hard-earned democracy.

“The future of the country is very bright if INEC will continue to handle future elections in the country as it did in the Osun by-election.”

Senator-elect for Osun West Senatorial District, Ademola Adeleke, yesterday said his victory in last Saturday’s by-election brought hope to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s governorship election in the state.

He also said his victory on the platform of the PDP was a testament that Nigerian democracy was alive.

Addressing reporter in Ede, Adeleke said Nigerians must allow democracy to continue to grow as the people of Osun State have demonstrated in the by-election.

The senator-elect said his victory proved that the power of incumbency could be defeated at the poll, if there was a collective will to achieve a good purpose.

He said: “The PDP’s victory in the election was a glimmer of hope and light in the party. It would surely shine forth and pave way for another victory yet again in the forthcoming governorship election in the state next year as well as the general election in 2019.

“My middle name, Nurudeen, means light (in Arabic); in Yoruba, it means Imole. So, my new position as a senator would bring light to Osun State and Osun West constituency for dividends of democracy. With light, the darkness pervading the land and poverty and backwardness among our people would be over.

“I promise to tread on my late brother’s people-oriented path. I will toe his path the way he cared for the less privileged through empowerment programmes and put smiles on their faces. I have learnt enough from him.”

Adeleke announced a N250 million scholarship for the education of indigent children in his constituency.

He said the scholarship would soon be shared equally among the 10 local government areas in Osun West.

July 10, 2017
Osun by-election: Markafi, Sheriff reconcile

The Ahmed Markafi and the Ali-Modu Sheriff factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State have reconciled.

They said the move was aimed at defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the July 8 Osun West Senatorial District by-election.

State stalwarts of the two factions, including Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Oku Alabi, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Adejare Bello, Chief Gbenga Owolabi, Akogun Lere Oyewumi, among others, yesterday joined the PDP candidate for Osun West Senatorial District by-election, Ademola Adeleke, on a campaign tour of Iwo to actualise his dream of going to the National Assembly.

They spoke in turns.

Omisore said the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, elder brother to Ademola, was a great politician.

The former PDP governorship candidate said it was important that the party forge a common front ahead of the by-election and the 2018 governorship poll in the state.

Oyedokun, who was PDP’s National Deputy Chairman, saluted the party’s elders and the state’s Chairman, Soji Adagunodo, for efforts to reconcile its factions.

He said the PDP was poised to defeat the ruling APC in the state in the by-election.

Bello, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, urged residents of Osun West to support Adeleke’s younger brother.

He said the people of Ede would always work for the progress of Osun and Nigeria.

Oyewumi said the reconciliation of PDP’s factions in Osun State provided an opportunity for many in other parties to work for its success in the by-election.

He said: “We are not concerned with the crisis at the national level of the PDP – whether the Sheriff or Markafi faction. We have proved that reconciliation is possible. Many states have been calling us to ask how we achieved the feat. Ekiti is one of the states.”

Adeleke said he was happy to reunite with the PDP.

June 19, 2017
Makarfi kicks as Sheriff urges court to shun appeal

Apex court hears PDP leadership tussle suit today

The leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Supreme Court to shun an appeal brought before it by the party’s sacked National Caretaker Committee led by Ahmed Makarfi.

The PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC), led by Ali Modu Sheriff (Chairman), Prof. Wale Oladipo (Secretary) said the Makarfi Committee, having been declared illegal by the February 17, 2017 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, lacked the powers to take decisions for the party, including initiating court proceedings in its name.

The PDP leadership stressed this position in a written argument it made in support of an application it filed on March 21 seeking the striking out of the appeal filed on February 27 by the Markafi Committee against the February 17 Appeal Court’s judgment. The written submission was filed on May 10 in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive on May 4.

The PDP leadership is contending that the Makarfi Committee did not obtain the PDP’s authorisation to appeal in its name and on its behalf, because the PDP under the current leadership, was comfortable with the Appeal Court judgment and does not intent to challenge it.

It contented, in the address written by a group of lawyers, led by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), that since the Court of Appeal, in its February 17 judgment, declared that the Sheriff-led NEC is the authentic leadership organ of the PDP, the Makarfi-led Committee could no longer pursue an appeal in the party’s name.

The Sheriff-led PDP leadership argued that the decision of the Makarfi committee to file an appeal in the name of the PDP without its (the party’s) authorisation was not only illegal, it violated the party’s constitution.

Relying on the provisions of Chapter 5, Articles 35(1), 36(1) and 42(1) of the PDP constitution, it argued that the party, with a corporate personality, could only act through the principal national officer, whose powers and functions are stated in the constitution.

It referred to a May 18, 2016 judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital territory (FCT) ordering a return to status quo as at May 18, 2016 and the subsequent judgment of the Federal High Court in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/464/2016 to the effect that only the Sheriff NEC could instruct lawyers for the party, and urged the Supreme Court not to hear the appeal.

The Sheriff-led PDP leadership noted that it had not by its argument said the Makarfi Committee could not appeal the May 17 judgment of the Appeal Court, having been parties in the case from the trial court, it (the Makarfi Committee) or its members could only appeal as interested parties after first, obtaining the court’s leave to so appeal.

In the substantive appeal, among other issues, Sheriff/PDP lawyers urged that the appeal should either be dismissed or struck out because the supposed appellants (Makarfi’s PDP) did not ‎obtain neither the leave of the Court of Appeal nor that of the Supreme Court before filing the appeal which is based on mixed law and facts.

In a counter argument, the Makarfi Committee, represented by a group of lawyers, led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), urges the court to discountenance the Sheriff NEC’s arguments and proceed to hear its appeal. It among others, urged the Supreme Court to set aside the Appeal Court’s judgment of February 17.

In its argument dated May 15, the Makarfi Committee queried the legitimacy of the application filed by the Sheriff-led NEC and argued that it was not only strange, but intended to frustrate the hearing of the main appeal.

It argued that it was wrong for Sheriff and others to ask the court not to hear the appeal after briefing Akin Olujinmi (SAN) to represent them in the substantive appeal and filling a respondents’ brief, in which they also made similar arguments in relation to the competence of the appeal.

Relying on Order 8 Rule 6 (1), (2) and (4) of the Supreme Court’s Rules, the Makarfi Committee faulted the March 15, 2017 letter of the Sheriff-led NEC applying to withdraw the appeal and the subsequent application for its strike out. It argued that since Sheriff and others did not file the appeal, they lacked the right to apply to withdraw it.

In a response on point of law, filed by Fagbemi on May 18, the Sheriff-led NEC faulted all legal arguments by the Makarfi Committee, urged the court to discountenance its contention and hold that it lacked the locus standi to file an appeal in the name of the PDP, having been sacked by a subsisting judgment.

On the issue of representation, they explained that while Fagbemi and others were representing the‎ PDP as a party, Olujinmi was leading a team for Sheriff and Oladipo, sued in their personal capacities and representing the National officers, NWC and NEC of the PDP.

The Makarfi Committee has, however filed papers, seeking to regularise their processes. But, this was done after parties had joined issues and briefs exchanged.

It was learnt yesterday that the Supreme Court had rescheduled the hearing of the appeal relating to the PDP leadership dispute for today (May 22).

The court had, on May 4, ordered the filing of the written briefs and adjourned till May 25 for hearing. It could not be ascertained yesterday what informed the court’s decision to bring the date forward.

May 22, 2017
PDP crisis: Sheriff plots membership registration ahead of convention

•Dumps Dickson’s peace plan

The Sheriff faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to pull a fresh fast one on the rival Makarfi faction.

It is plotting a membership registration update as it forges ahead with the planned national convention, it was gathered yesterday.

It may also have concluded plans to dump the peace pact facilitated by the Governor Seriake Dickson reconciliation committee.

Party sources said the Sheriff-led PDP resolved to carry out a fresh registration of party members ahead of the planned national convention which is expected to usher in a new leadership for the troubled opposition party.

The decision was taken at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja attended by states chairmen.

The move is part of the efforts of the faction to strengthen its hold on the structures of the party from the local government level to the national level.

“It came as a suggestion from our state chairmen who thought there is need for the party to be returned to Nigerians,” a source said.

“It was argued that the crisis took a toll on party membership at the grassroots level. The issue of serial defection of our members in recent times also came up. The issue is receiving serious attention from the relevant arms of the party. I can assure you that we will soon open our doors to Nigerians to come in and take their party back.

“Since May 2015, the defection of PDP leaders and members to APC has taken place in all the 36 states of the federation. It is our fear that the defection of prominent PDP leaders will continue if we allow ourselves to be tied down by these deceptive peace moves and processes that had led us nowhere.

“Our resolve it to forge ahead by doing everything necessary to reposition PDP. Senator Sheriff and other leaders of our party, having satisfied their conscience so far by giving listening ears to various forms of peace proposals, from the mundane to the serious, are now convoked that peace can only come from within the PDP, not from people being sponsored to destabilize us, but pretending to be part of us.”

The convention is tentatively scheduled for June.

The faction is also said to have decided to dump the peace deal worked out by the Dickson Committee.

It was learnt that the party resolved to withdraw its participation in the peace process drawn up by the committee.

Another source said:”Our position, as a party, is to move on with plans to host the convention. We are forging ahead with the process of giving our party a new leadership as soon as possible. “We also resolved not to be part of any reconciliation with any group or persons again. As far a s we are concerned, there is nothing to reconcile again. Genuine PDP members are with us and they are ready tom move on with us.

“The meeting in Abuja which was attended by almost all our leaders from all the states put an end to our participation in the charade they call peace meetings. We now know that those meetings and parleys are designed to slow us down and keep the PDP in unnecessary crisis. I can tell you that there is no crisis in the PDP anymore.”

But it appears the decision to back out of the peace deal was also taken at different fora, according to multiple sources.

“Following series of strategic meetings by the leadership of the party with various interest groups and influential party leaders, including serving and former public office holders, many chieftains of the party who were, before now standing aloof while the two factions struggled for supremacy, have been recruited into the plan,” one of the sources said.

“It is a general notion, as we speak, that we need to bring more people into the party, especially from the grassroots. The PDP, as conceived by our founding fathers, belong to the people. Having resisted the evil plan by a few persons masquerading as party leaders to hijack the PDP for selfish reasons, it is time to return the party to the people.”

April 23, 2017
Sheriff, Makarfi greet Christians

The court- backed National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ali Modu- Sheriff has urged Christians to imbibe the lessons of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In a statement by his deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh in Abuja yesterday, Sheriff urged Christians and Nigerians to remain positive about the nation.
He stressed every challenge, including even death, can be overcome through abiding faith in God and dogged determination.
He said the lessons learnt from Easter should serve as a springboard for every Nigerian to rise above the challenges that the country is being confronted with.
“As we remember the cruxifion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we should draw a lesson from his resurrection and rise above the challenges we currently face as a country. “Even in recession, we believe as a party that there are opportunities that we believe the ever resilient Nigerian people can explore and exploit to better their lot.”
On his part, chairman of the caretaker committee of the party Senator Ahmed Makarfi, called on Christians to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ that teaches sacrifice.
He urged Christians to always seek peace in commemoration of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“Just as He paid the ultimate sacrifice for our sake, we urge Nigerians especially, Christian faithful to make sacrifices for the good of others thereby emulating the virtues of Jesus sacrifice.
“In addition, we urge all Christians in Nigeria to use the Easter celebrations to reflect and pray for Nigeria’s continuous unity and peaceful coexistence,” Makarfi said in a statement signed by the committee’s spokesman , Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

April 16, 2017
Sheriff to Fayose: Quit PDP now

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Modu Sheriff, has told the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, to leave the party as he was responsible for the crisis rocking the party.

The PDP chairman, who spoke with journalists after a visiting the party secretariat in Calabar, Cross River, said Fayose’s exit would bring peace to the party.

According to Sheriff, Fayose was the only PDP governor causing crisis in the party.

He described the Ekiti governor as a loner who was acting a script of his “benefactor” to wreck the PDP.

Sheriff advised Fayose to quickly announce his exit from the PDP, so the party can get peace and properly prepare for the 2019 general elections.

The PDP chairman said, “He (Fayose) cannot speak for the southwest PDP. The southwest PDP that I know cannot allow the likes of Fayose to be speaking for them.

“Fayose is alone and he is speaking for himself not the PDP of southwest. He is the only governor that is causing problem among the 12 PDP governors that we have today.

“If he wants to leave the party, he should go and there will be peace in the PDP because he is the architect of the crisis in our party.

“For the record, all the southwest PDP chairmen and their leaders are with me. So where is Fayose getting his support base from? He is a alone and he’s just playing the script of his author. He should go if he wants.”

April 13, 2017