Embattled Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali-Modu Sheriff, has vowed to appeal the ruling of a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday.
The court, in its judgment on Monday, authenticated the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the PDP.
The ruling further exacerbates the conflicting position between that Division on the one hand and the Lagos and Abuja Divisions on the other.
The Lagos Division by the hand of two different judges, Buba J. and Idris J. made preservative orders respectively on the 14th and 20th of May in respect of matters that challenged the notice of convention issued for election of replacement for incumbents of the NEC and NWC of the PDP whose tenure had not expired.
The PH Division made orders ex parte on the 23rd of May validating a meeting held in PH by some PDP members as a valid National Convention held pursuant to that Notice, challenged in Lagos and validating a “caretaker Committee” installed at the meeting to replace the officers of the PDP NEC and NWC who were fighting for the continuation of their tenure at the Lagos Division.
That ex parte order lapsed on the 9th of June.
The Abuja Division on the 30th of June made interlocutory orders directing that only the ALIMODU SHERRIFF led NEC/NWC could represent the PDP or conduct its affairs including primaries (This confirmed the previous orders of the Lagos Division. This is a specific order concerning PDP primaries for Edo and Ondo States.
However, Sheriff has instructed his lawyer to appeal the judgment and as well get the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the PDP restrained from obeying it until the appeal is heard.
