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Tag: Sheriff

  • We’ll conduct PDP’s national convention soon – Sheriff

    Reinstated National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, said he would organize a national convention of the party within the shortest time.

    He said the convention was imperative as it would enable interested party members to aspire for positions.

    Sheriff, who addressed a news conference on Saturday in Abuja, said that Friday’s Appeal Court judgment in Port Harcourt affirming his chairmanship of the PDP was the beginning of good things to come to the party.

    He said that he was not interested to be chairman of the party, but was more interested in reuniting the members and made sure the party had credible leaders, who would make it win the 2019 elections.

    He said that following the judgment, he had received many telephone calls from PDP leaders and that he had also reached out to many persons over the unity of the party.

    “All the leaders of the party will be consulted between now and the next one week and we will come out with a firm roadmap that will lead to successful convention.

    “I can assure you that within the shortest possible time we will organize a successful national convention so that people can aspire for whatever positions they want.

    “Regarding the ruling of the Appeal Court on Friday, I want to assured that nobody is victor and no one is a loser.

    “ In fact, I have spoken to almost all the people that are affected by the court decision and assured them of my readiness to work with them to ensure that the party returns as one family,’’ Sheriff said.

    He added that he would also reach out to the party’s reconciliation committee to ensure that it came up with roadmap leading to the national convention.

    Sheriff said that though he had full confidence in the country’s judiciary, he believed that litigation was not the best way to settle a dispute.

    “I am determined to make my honest contributions to the success of this party. By doing that, I am ready to make any sacrifice for the success of this party.

    “We don’t want PDP to lose elections again. It is painful to lose elections.

    “We need people to patronize our party, democracy is about people, you either give them their right or they leave.

    “What we are trying to do is to give the party back to the people,” he said.

    The chairman announced that all states congresses held prior to the Port Harcourt national convention remained valid, adding that congresses would only be conducted in states where it was not held.

    He, however, warned those speaking for him on the social media to desist from that in order not to compound the problem of the party.

    He advised that people should not look at the leadership tussle as fight between him or Makarfi or any other leader of the party.

    On the reopening of the locked PDP national secretariat, Sheriff said that it would be done as soon as an order on it was given by the Police.

  • [Just in] Ben Bruce delares support for Modu Sheriff

    Lawmaker representing Bayelsa east senatorial district, Ben Murray Bruce, has declared his support for said former governor of Borno state, Ali Modu Sheriff, who was reinstated as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by the Appeal court in Port Harcourt on Friday.

    Bruce, who made the revelation via his official to Twitter account, site said the bickering in the PDP is childish and irrelevant.

    He added that he is no longer in support of litigation.

    In the post titled ‘My Position on the Appeal Court’s judgement concerning the Leadership of the PDP,’ Bruce who stated that PDP is on a course towards destruction, added that he is supporting Sheriff because it is the only way to preserve the party.

    “Concerning the PDP, the current bickering is childish and irrelevant. I am not in support of anymore litigation. We will work with Ali Modu Sheriff and go to a convention. Right now, PDP is on a course towards destruction and abiding by the judgement of the court is the only thing that can save us. In the first place, it is never the job of the judiciary to choose the leader of a party. I therefore call an end to the fighting. And I am supporting Ali Modu Sheriff because it is the only way to preserve the party. Right now, what Nigeria has is a one-party state – there is no opposition. Enough is enough. This is the time for PDP to unite, we are a formidable force,” he posted.

    The Appeal Court in Port Harcourt in a ruling Friday nullified PDP National Convention held in the Rivers capital in May 2016.

    The court also nullified the National Caretaker Committee of the party constituted at the convention, and held that Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff remains the National Chairman of PDP. The Caretaker Committee was led by Senators Ahmed Makarfi.

     

  • I will make Fayose, Wike irrelevant in PDP, says Sheriff

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s National Chairman, Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff says he will shut out Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and the Rivers State Governor, Nyensom Wike from the party.

    Recall that TheNewsGuru.com published a story on an Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, which held that Sheriff remains the authentic Chairman of the PDP.

    Reacting to the judgment, Senator Sheriff, vowed to put in place a machinery that would not give room to people like Wike and Fayose in any future arrangement in the party.

    The former Borno State Governor told reporters, “I will engineer a restructuring of PDP such that characters like Wike and Fayose cannot find a way through to attain any position of prominence in our party in the future.

    “They have brought shame and agony through the application of their crude and godless politics which is at variance with the principles upon which our founding fathers built our great party.

    “We must find a way to sieve things so that only men of character and integrity can come through for positions of responsibility at all levels of our political engagement in the country.

    “We must urgently steer the ship of PDP clear of the path of infamy which Wike and Fayose has brought our party, making Nigerians to mistaken PDP as a training ground for thugs. That is the urgent task we have. We cannot continue to advertise thug brand and expect Nigerians to take us seriously.”

  • No Cause for alarm over A/Court on PDP – Ekweremadu

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has enjoined PDP members not to be anxious over ruling of Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, on lingering party leadership tussle.

    This is contained in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr Uche Anichukwu, on Friday in Abuja.

    He said there was no cause for alarm, as the party leadership would meet soon to take a decision on the best way forward.

    “I enjoin party faithful to remain steadfast as we will surely emerge stronger from the present challenges.

    “Those dreaming about the death of the opposition in Nigeria will have to sleep much longer and still wake up to meet us much stronger.

    “This is because a vibrant opposition is the beauty of democracy,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt on Friday upheld former Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, as the authentic National Chairman of the PDP.

    A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt in 2016 declared Makarfi as the chairman of the party, while another court of coordinate jurisdiction in Abuja, headed by Justice Okon Abang, ruled in favour of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff.

    Following the leadership tussle, Makarfi and Sheriff have been working from offices other than the national headquarters of the party at Wadata Plaza in Abuja, due to its closure by security agencies.

  • A’Court Judgement: We’ll quit PDP for Sheriff, form a new party – Fani-Kayode

    A’Court Judgement: We’ll quit PDP for Sheriff, form a new party – Fani-Kayode

    Former aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Koyde said the appeal court ruling on Friday that declared Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is absurd.

    Fani-Kayode noted that it will be a waste staying a party with Sheriff as chairman. He therefore said the best option available to him and some other aggrieved members was the formation of a new party.

    The former Presidential campaign spokesperson in a series of tweet on his twitter handle wrote: “The C of A decision is absurd. It is time for us to gut the PDP, leave its carcass for the treacherous mole called Sheriff and form a new party.”

    Fani-Kayode, who dropped the hint while reacting to the Appeal Court’s earlier ruling affirming Sheriff as PDP Chairman, has earlier described the ruling as victory for President Muhammadu Recall that the Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State had earlier today ruled in favour of the former Borno State Governor.

    TheNewsGuru.com that an Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Friday declared Senator Ali Modu Sheriff the substantive Chairman of the party.

    Following the ruling, the Makarfi’s faction of the former ruling party disclosed that it would be heading for the Supreme Court to contest the judgment

  • Makarfi to appeal affirmation of Sheriff as PDP, National Chairman

    The Sen. Ahmed Markafi-led, National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the party would appeal the Court of Appeal Judgement affirming Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff as chairman of the party.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the Committee, Mr Dayo Adeyeye disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.

    Adeyeye described the judgement as a “big disappointment, travesty and miscarriage of justice.”

    “The minority judgement is very sound in law, logic and fact. It gives us hope that we will have our day in the Supreme Court.

    “Whereas the lead judgement left out the main issues and laboured unconvincingly to work to a preconceived answer, the minority judgement thrashed all the issues and upheld the judgement of the High Court in Port Harcourt, delivered by Liman J on July 4, 2016. `

    “We will certainly appeal to the Supreme Court. No reconciliatory effort will stop it.

    “We need the Supreme Court to make a pronouncement on the issue, once and for all,’’ he said.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that apart from affirming Sheriff as the National Chairman of the PDP, the appellant court also nullified the party’s National Convention held in the Rivers capital in 2016 and the National Caretaker Committee of the party constituted at the convention.

    Two out of the three-member Appeal Court, Justice B.G. Sanga and Justice A. Gumel, in the judgment, said the Port Harcourt convention was an abuse of court process.

    Delivering the lead judgment, Sanga said that PDP did not follow the provisions of Article 47(3) of its Constitution in the removal of the Sherrif-led National Working Committee.

  • Reinstating Sheriff as PDP Chairman is ‘rape on democracy’ – Fayose

    Reinstating Sheriff as PDP Chairman is ‘rape on democracy’ – Fayose

    The chairman of the Governors Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the Appeal Court, Port Harcourt judgement reinstating Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman of the party, as a `rape on democracy’.

    Ayo Fayose, who is also Ekiti State Governor, made the remark in Abuja on Friday while reacting to the outcome of the judgement.

    According to Fayose, the judgment was against the will of the people.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt in a ruling Friday nullified PDP National Convention held in the Rivers capital in May 2016. The court also nullified the National Caretaker Committee of the party constituted at the convention, and held that Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff remains the National Chairman of PDP.

    Two out of the three-member Appeal Court, Justice B.G. Sanga and Justice A. Gumel, in their judgment said the Port Harcourt convention on May 21, 2016, was an abuse of court process.

    Delivering the lead judgment, Sanga said that PDP did not follow the provisions of Article 47(3) of its Constitution in the removal of the Sherrif-led National Working Committee.

    Fayose, however, said that the party would appeal the judgment in the Supreme Court.

    “If the people truly symbolise what a party is, then the machinations of our detractors and the anti-democracy organs will not prevail at last.

    “We commend the minority judgment of the lower court and we believe the truth will prevail. It is a matter of time.

    “Thank God we have another opportunity to seek justice at the Supreme Court, which I believe will not be delayed or denied, because when justice is delayed it is denied.

    “It is a party matter that must be addressed as soon as possible.

    “The party will appeal the judgement as we believe in the ability of the judiciary to do justice,’’ Fayose said.

    The governor however, appealed to members, sympathisers, leaders and supporters of the PDP to remain calm saying “we are sure justice will come at last’’.

    “If this is the price to pay, to keep our democracy alive and opposition strengthened, we are prepared to go the whole hug and for a time like this,’’ the governor said.

    Fayose said that organs of the party would meet shortly to take concrete decisions on the way forward.

    He also assured that the governors’ forum and various organs of the leadership of the party remain united and strong.

    “You have the assurance of my colleagues that we should be less worried about this development.

    “We will take steps and continue to ensure that the interest and future of this party is not mortgaged,”he said.

    The forum chairman said that the Sen. Ahmed Markarfi-led PDP faction has majority of supporters on its side including governors, senators, House of Representatives members, state party chairmen.

    “We want to believe that the same judiciary will right the wrong,’’ he said.

    Fayose said the judgement would not affect ongoing efforts aimed at re-positioning the party or the governorship election in his state.

    “I am a nation of Israel amidst the enemies; nobody defeats the nation of Israel. I will never be defeated,’’ the governor said.

    On the withheld Ekiti state’s statutory allocation, Fayose assured the workers to expect their salaries on Tuesday.

    “I can gladly tell you that a letter has been transmitted since yesterday (Thursday) for the release of the money. Whatever reason they give is not as important as that money.

    “I want to assure the people of Ekiti that they will get alert on Tuesday,’’ Fayose said

    In his reactions, the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Sen. Walid Jubril, said that the judgment was not a threat to the party but would rather unite them.

    He said that the party would go to any length to resolve the issue.

    Jubril also urged PDP members to be calm and not defect to other parties as it was engaging in consultation with all organs of the party to ensure that the party remained strong.

    “I am sure that very soon everybody will smile. Those who are crying today will laugh again and PDP will one day become one party and strong. All these is a question of time,’’ Jubril said.

    He said that the party would on Tuesday come out with a statement.

     

  • Just-In: Appeal Court declares Sheriff Authentic PDP chairman

    An Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Friday declared Senator Ali Modu Sheriff the substantive Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party.

    In their rulings, three judges, Justice B.G. Sanga and Justice A.A. Gumel delivered judgement in favour of Senator Ali Modu faction while Justice T.S. Orji-Abadua ruled in favour of the Makarfi-led faction.

    At least, four lower courts of concurrent jurisdiction had given conflicting judgements on the controversy surrounding the leadership of PDP, a development landed the matter at the Appeal Court.

    In his ruling, Justice Sanga, who gave the lead judgement, said the party did not comply with its constitution in removing the executive of the PDP led by Sheriff.

    Sanga maintained that a vote of confidence might be moved on any officer, but a two-month notice should be provided to the secretariat of the party, which would in turn circulate it to all members of the party.

    He submitted that the PDP did not comply with the provisions of Article 47(3) of its constitution in the removal of the Sherrif-led working committee, maintaining that the national working committee was not put on notice.

    According to him, “A vote of confidence may be moved on any officer, but in doing that, a two-month notice shall be provided to the secretariat of the party, which shall also be circulated.

    “The way the (Sheriff) executive on May 21, 2016, showed that the party’s constitution was not complied with.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the PDP has been enmeshed in leadership crisis following the inauguration of the Sen Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee in May 2016.

    The party had inaugurated the committee following the alleged expiration of the tenure of its embattled factional National Chairman, Sen Ali Modu Sheriff.

    However, spokesperson of the Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, Dayo Adeyeye in his reaction to the judgement, said ‘it is fight to finish’

  • Buhari will return, Nigeria needs him – Sheriff led PDP

    The Ali Modu-Sheriff faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday prayed for good health and return of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    At an expanded South-west PDP Committee meeting in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun state, the faction said Nigeria needs Buhari “in order to continue his anti-corruption crusade”.

    This is contained in the nine-point communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, read by the faction’s National Vice-Chairman, South-west, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe.

    It acknowledged efforts of leaders to reposition the party and get PDP back to winning ways.

    The communique said PDP remained the only alternative to the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.

    The communique urged members to prepare for the forthcoming elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

    In his remark, Sheriff said he would continue to work for the progress of the party and return it to the grassroots.

    Sheriff, who stated that he would not be provoked by the statement of Chairman of the PDP Strategy Review Committee, Prof. Jerry Gana, challenged him to go and contest election in his locality and win before he could talk to him about party administration and management.

    In his keynote address, former Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, also the Deputy Chairman of PDP Reconciliation Committee, attributed the crisis rocking the party to lack of internal democracy, imposition of candidates and impunity.

    Mantu said: “The national leadership is doing its very best to rebrand and reposition our party positively before the Nigerian public in readiness for 2019.

    “In spite of the crack in the family, the leadership is moving steadily in the right direction; encouraging mass participation of members in the activities of the party, thereby giving them sense of belonging.

    “All hands must be on deck to ensure total victory in the entire South-west and Nigeria in 2019. We must therefore not allow seeming differences affect our victory at the polls.

    “Our detractors had expected the crack in the family to be the beginning of our end. Tell them that the lion was just sleeping in order to conserve more energy for 2019. No matter how much weight an elephant loses, it can never be compared to a cow”.

    The meeting was attended by the Sheriff’s deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojuigbo; National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo; Senator Sam Anyanwu (Imo West), Senator Buruji Kashamu (Ogun East) and former FCT Minister, Mohammed Abba Gana.

    Others included Senator Hosea Ehinlanwo, Hon. Adesegun Adekoya, Hon. Segun Odebunmi; Hon. Victor Akande, Hon. Bowale Solaja, former Presidential adviser, Ahmed Gulak and the leadership of the party from Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo and Ogun States.

     

  • PDP Crisis: We will not appeal verdict of Appeal Court – Sheriff faction

     

    The Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it will not approach the Supreme Court to appeal the outcome of the expected Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s leadership crisis.

    The National Deputy Chairman of the faction, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, made the pledge this when he addressed newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

    Ojougboh said that the faction was,however, expecting a land mark judgment that would not only bring to rest the lingering leadership crisis in the party, but also determined the landmark of Nigerian politics.

    “We are also in discussion with various organs of the party and we have reached a situation where all of us have agreed that, whatever is the outcome of the Appeal Court, nobody should appeal to the Supreme Court.

    “We will accept it and everybody will accept it‎.

    “After the court judgment, all of us will sit down again‎ and discuss. It is obvious that the Port Harcourt judgment will be the deciding factor. Anybody who will go ahead after the judgment, it is up to him,’’ Ojougboh said.

    The national deputy chairman added that the Sheriff-led faction was open to dialogue with the National Caretaker Committee and its loyalists, irrespective of the outcome of the court judgment.

    He appealed to PDP members to be patient while awaiting the outcome of the judgment.

    Ojougboh said that the faction was hopeful that the Court of Appeal would do what was necessary, ‘’which is the truth.“

    On PDP National Secretariat staff, who recently pledged their loyalty to Makarfi group, Ojougboh said that appropriate action on them would be taken after the expected court judgment.

    On the allegation that the faction wanted to woo PDP staff to its side with money but that the staff rejected the invitation and offer, Ojougboh said it was not true.#

    He said that though the faction’s National Working Committee wanted to meet with PDP staff, but most of them were yet to resume duty.

    According to him, the meeting has been rescheduled for future day.

    Meanwhile, some members of staff of PDP who spoke with the newsmen on condition of anonymity, said that they were invited but that they turned down the invitation.

    “Our loyalist is for Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee, there is no reason for us to be jumping from one leader to another,’’ the staff said.