Makarfi PDP Condemns Suit Against Justice Abang, Auta

• As Senator Kashamu slams BoT

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The leadership of the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissassociated itself from a suit instituted by some party faithful against Justice Ibrahim Auta and Justice Okon Abang for their involvement in the judgments delivered on the party’s crisis.

The party’s position came just as the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District in Ogun State, Senator Buruji Kashamu, criticised the BoT’s handling of the PDP crisis, stating that it has no business passing a vote of confidence in either of the two contending parties when a lot of contentious legal issues are yet to be resolved.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s Special Adviser, Dr. Ibrahim Umar, urged any loyal party member or groups that may have initiated the suit in question to immediately withdraw it.

“The attention of the Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has been drawn to some publications in both the print and electronic media alleging that the PDP has sued Justice Ibrahim Auta and Justice Okon Abang as a result of their involvement in the judgment delivered on the party.

The party which has been embroiled in crisis leading to a series of litigations, said that it has no reason to sue the Justices of the Federal High Court, since it strongly believes on the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

“We wish to state unequivocally that we are not part of the Suit at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court; and therefore, we are urging any loyal Party member or groups that initiated the Suit in question to immediately withdraw the Suit.

“The PDP under Senator Ahmed Makarfi has no reason to sue the honourable 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 its only our dependence on prudence 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,” he said.

Meanwhile, one of the key actors in the PDP conflict, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has described last Tuesday’s decisions of the BoT on the crisis rocking the party, as laughable.

Kashamu who was once a strong ally of the embattled Sheriff, accused the BoT of taking sides, a situation he said has cast doubt over their ability to broker genuine reconciliation among the warring parties.