Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has insisted that for without him being a co-chair of any convention organised by Peoples Democratic Party, he would not be part of the event.
The factional PDP Chairman, in a statement issued in Abuja, said that although the Governor Dickson/Senator Mantu-led Reconciliation Committee have been doing a good job in a bid to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the party, the recommendations made by the committee must be fully implemented.
“The reconciliation committee proposed that Sheriff and Makarfi should co-chair a National Executive Committee, NEC, where a unity convention will be hammered on and agreed upon,” the statement read.”
“We, however, make it very clear that the caretaker committee has been declared non-existent, illegal, null and void and unknown to law.”
“We, therefore, insist that the ideal thing to do is that Sheriff should convene a NEC meeting where Makarfi can attend as Board of Trustees, BoT, member and a date agreed upon for the unity convention, where a convention committee will be setup.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the functions of the BoT is well articulated in the constitution of the party and Section 32 (5g) states that it will offer advice on matters.”
“We, therefore, assert that the BoT has no power in the constitution to issue executive orders on the party’s matter.”
Meanwhile, chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has dissociated himself from a suit filed in Abuja High Court against Justices Ibrahim Auta and Okon Abang over their judgements against his faction of the party.
“We are not part of the suit at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court,” Makarfi declared in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Dr. Ibrahim Umar.
“Therefore, we are urging any loyal party member or groups that initiated the suit in question to immediately withdraw it.”
“PDP, under Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has no reason to sue the Justices of the Federal High Courts and the party will continue to rely strongly on the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, knowing fully that it’s only our dependence on prudent court judgment that will continue to stabilize our democracy and bring about good governance.”
“In the light of the above, the PDP has not instructed anyone or group of persons to file any case on its behalf and, therefore, is not a party to Suit N0 9V/2239/2016 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”
“The general public, our members and teeming supporters should note that the party is already taking appropriate legal steps to address previous dissenting rulings.”
“The PDP will continue to maintain its position as a party that will provide alternative governance and people-oriented programmes that is beneficial to all Nigerians.”