PDP Re-states Call for Arrest of Sheriff, Others

By Onyebuchi Ezigbo in  Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has renewed its call on the Inspector General of Police, to immediately effect the arrest and prosecution of the former National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and others for contempt of court.

While reacting to Friday’s ruling of the FCT High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, which struck out the Motion filed by Sheriff praying that it set aside the Court Judgment that nullified the process that produced him as National Chairman.

“The Party welcomed the development and restated the call by the PDP to the Inspector General of Police, to immediately effect the arrest and prosecution of the former National

Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and  their co-travelers for Contempt of Court,” it said.

In a statement issued yesterday by a member of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party said that it welcomes the court ruling, adding that it is in consonance with the earlier judgement  of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on the 4th of July, which ruled that the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker committee  as the only authentic and legal Working Committee of the Party.

“In his Judgment delivered on Friday July 8, 2016, Justice Valentine Ashi  of the FCT High Court struck-out the Motion for lack of merit and abuse  of Court Processes.

“For the record, the same Judge, Justice Valentine Ashi on Tuesday, June  28, 2016 delivered a Judgment nullifying the Amendment of Article 47 (6)  of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2014 which  Senator Sheriff claimed to have taken effect at the Special National  Convention in December of the same year that produced Ali Modu Sheriff’s  predecessor, Amadu Adamu Muazu; thereby nullifying the  appointment of Senator Sheriff by the 68th National Executive Committee

Meeting of the PDP.

“While delivering the Judgment, Justice Valentine Ashi urged politicians to learn to accept defeat and not to attempt to use the Court to achieve

goals they failed to score in the political field. Let the public also

recall that another Judge last week described Senator Sheriff and Co as

“busy bodies”.

“The purported Amendment of Article 47(6) amongst others of the PDP’s

Constitution in the 2014 Special National Convention of the Party has

been a source of contention and the party had brought the matter before

an FCT High Court earlier in the year.

“The Party further calls on its members nationwide to remain steadfast

and continue to support the PDP National Caretaker Committee led by

Senator  Makarfi,  who has been confirmed by the  Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on the 4th of July, 2016 as the only authentic and legal Working Committee of the Party,” he said.