The Ali Modu-Sheriff led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said Wednesday’s ruling by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court did not oust its National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, from office contrary to reports in the media.
“This is completely false and a clear misrepresentation of the ruling of the court as it never gave any ruling ousting the National Chairman,” the statement by Prof. Adewale Oladipo, National Secretary of the PDP faction said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the court only heard and delivered judgment on a matter concerning certain amendments in the PDP constitution, which has nothing to do with the election of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman or even that of his predecessor, Alhaji Adamu Muazu.
“Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was duly elected as the National Chairman of the PDP. He still holds office as the National Chairman and has not been removed by any court.
“We therefore urge those misleading the media and the unsuspecting public to desist from such. The media is also urged to always cross-check their facts before going to press,” the statement added.
In his ruling, Justice Valantine Ashi, declared as “unconstitutional, null and void”, the purported amendment of Article 47 Rule 6 of PDP Constitution, 2012, at a special National Convention the party held on Wednesday and Thursday, December 10 and 11, 2014.
It voided the said amendment on the basis that there was no compliance with mandatory provisions of Article 66 (2) and (3) of the PDP constitution.
“By reason of the above, 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 judge ruled.
The judgment followed a suit marked FCT/HC/CV/1867/2016, which was lodged before the court by a chieftain of the PDP in Ondo state, Chief Joseph Jero. PDP was cited as the sole defendant in the matter.
Mr. Okere Kingdom, the counsel that represented the PDP in court said the party will appeal the ruling.
