Unic Press UK: A High Court sitting in Abuja, presided by Judge Valentine Ashi, on Wednesday, the 29th June, ruled that the “amended” 2014 Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Constitution that formed the bedrock on which the appointment of Ali Modu Sheriff and several others as officials of the PDP rests, is null and void, unconstitutional and non-existent in law.
The Judge ruled that the purported amendment of Article 47 Rule 6 of PDP Constitution, 2012, at the Party’s National Convention that was held from the 10th December 2014 until the 11th December 2014 was not in compliance with the provisions of Article 66 (2) and (3) of the PDP Constitution.
Judge Ashi said:
“… the purported amendments introduced to the Constitution on the aforesaid dates, are hereby set-aside.
“All persons, individuals, servants or agents of PDP parading themselves as national officers of the PDP pursuant to the purported amendment which has now been nullified are hereby restrained from further parading themselves in these capacities.’’
The matter challenging the amendment of the PDP Constitution was initiated by a PDP member in Ondo State, Joseph Jero, on suit number FCT/HC/CV/1867/2016. The plaintiff, Jero, had prayed the Court to determine, among other things, “whether in view of the mandatory provisions of section 222(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the purported amendment of the provisions of Article 47(6) of the Constitution of the PDP 2012, without registering the alteration within 30 days with the Independent National Electoral Commission, is not null, void, illegal, unconstitutional and of no effect whatsoever.”
Sheriff speaks
Sheriff, speaking through his media assistant, Inuwa Bwala, said he remained the PDP Chairman as he was not a named defendant or respondent on suit number FCT/HC/CV/1867/2016. He claims that the ruling of the Court did not affect his position in the PDP.
Makarfi-led ‘caretaker committee’ caution Sheriff
The secretary of the caretaker committee, Senator Ben Obi: “It is time for them to face the truth and retrace their steps.”
Crisis in the PDP
There are two major factions within the PDP. A faction is led by Ali Modu Sheriff who claims that he is the Chairman. Another faction is led by Ahmed Makarfi as caretaker Chairman.
The PDP leadership tussle is ongoing in Court. A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, which is presided by Judge Mahkmud Lima, will on the 4th of July 2016 deliver judgment on one of the several cases.
Ali Modu Sheriff (L) and Ahmed Makarfi
