By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Umoru Henry, Ikechukwu Nnochiri,
Dapo Akinrefon, Dirisu Yakubu, Ndahi Marama &Blessing Aina
ABUJA—Nigeria’s political landscape was, yesterday, being reshaped with new permutations and perspectives on the 2019 elections, after the Supreme Court resolved the leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in favour of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee.
The
judgement immediately electrified the political space with party chieftains affirming
the readiness of the party to play its role as the country’s major opposition
party. The revalidation of the Makarfi-led executive which controls the
mainstream of the party, it was learnt yesterday, was putting fresh focus on
the party as the platform of choice to combat the ruling All Progressives
Congress, APC, in the 2019 elections. The ruling APC on its part, said it was
indifferent to the ruling, saying the judgment made no impact on it as it had
nothing to gain or lose from the aspirations of the two major tendencies in the
opposition party. After escorting Makarfi and members of his executive to take
over the Wadata national secretariat of the PDP in Abuja, senior party
chieftains were last night huddled in caucuses preparatory to revving up party
organs that had laid comatose for more than one year. Vanguard learnt,
yesterday, that formal meetings of the organs of the party are not likely to
commence until Monday at the earliest. Meanwhile, leading associates and
members of the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction were also, yesterday,
huddled in a separate meeting in Abuja where an official said they were
studying the judgement with lawyers.
A statement
by the now de-legitimised leadership was being awaited at press time.
Jubilation in Maiduguri over Sheriff’s loss The political loss for Sheriff was
practically brought home to him as his local political rivals in Maiduguri
thronged the streets in celebration of the defeat of the former governor of the
state. Chairman of the APC, Ali Bukar Dalor while commending the apex court for
its judgment told the crowd: “We have tried our best to ensure that we remain
in the same party with Sheriff, but due to his pomposity and his attitude to
look down on anybody, we had to chase him out of APC. It is unfortunate that
even when he found a soft landing and became National Chairman of Caretaker
Committee of PDP, he remained a stumbling block to not only Senator Makarfi,
leaders and founding fathers of the PDP, but the entire PDP family. Thank God
that he was finally sacked as the National Chairman by the apex Court today
(yesterday). Many may return to PDP The judgement, political sources said
yesterday, was being expected to bring back many politicians who had given up
on the party being a viable platform to confront the APC in elections. Among
those who have been severally mentioned are former Vice-President Atiku
Abubakar who associates say, would contest the 2019 presidential elections if
not on the platform of the APC, then on an alternative political party. Atiku
had been the choice of some PDP insiders determined to find a presidential
material from the North-East. Assertions that Senate President Bukola Saraki,
who some associates claim could also dump the APC on account of what they claim
as his persecution in the hands of the APC government were refuted yesterday.
A very close associate said the issue of
Saraki leaving the APC for a re-energised PDP was never on the cards. Judgement
re-energises PDP The PDP as the country’s leading opposition party received a
boost, yesterday, after the apex court, in a unanimous judgment by a five-man
panel of Justices led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter
Onnoghen, handed leadership of the party to the Senator Markafi-led National
Working Committee, NWC. It validated the May 21, 2016, National Convention the
PDP held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where the Sheriff-led National
Executive Committee, NEC, was dissolved. According to the Supreme Court,
Article 33(3) of the PDP Constitution imbued the National Convention of the
party with the authority to dissolve the NEC and appoint an interim Committee
(NWC) to pilot affairs of the party. It held that such National Officers could
be removed when they are adjudged to have acted contrary to the PDP Constitution,
or did anything that was capable of bringing the party to disrepute. Delivering
the lead judgment, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour noted that Sheriff, being aware
of the provisions of the party’s constitution, initially submitted himself to
the PDP Electoral Committee with the intention of vying for National Chairman
of the party at the said Port Harcourt convention, but was disqualified a day
before the event, May 20, 2016.
He also
noted that Sheriff was only brought in to complete the tenure of former
Chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu. The apex court stressed that documents
before it showed that Sheriff unilaterally suspended the convention after he
was screened out on the grounds that he submitted “half-filled nomination
form,” which the committee said was not supported with a tax clearance form,
PDP membership card or voter’s card. It observed that Sheriff’s action
culminated to a suit marked FHC/PH/524/16, through which the Markafi-led NWC,
sought to validate the mandate that was given to it at the Port Harcourt
convention. According to the apex court, during the pendency of the said suit,
the Sheriff-led faction of the party, instituted over 10 legal actions “in
desperate bid to continue to perpetuate themselves in office.” Sheriff
forum-shopping — Supreme Court The court accused Sheriff of abusing the
judicial process, saying he engaged in “forum shopping,” and “displayed
infantile desperation to cling to office at all cost.” Justice Rhodes-Vivour
held that the former Borno State Governor, owing to his “palpable desire to
perpetuate himself in office,” resorted to filing multiple suits. “Most of the
suits have since been abandoned. They will forever gather dust in the judicial
archives”, Justice Rhodes-Vivour added. Besides, the apex court held that the
PDP constitution gave the Deputy National Chairman of the party the power to
preside over the party’s convention in the absence of the National Chairman.
Justice Rhodes-Vivour said it was not in dispute that erstwhile Deputy National
Chairman of the party, Chief Uche Secondus, attended the May 21, 2016,
convention. He held that the motion that dissolved the Sheriff-led NEC was
moved in line with Article 33(5) of the PDP constitution. More so, Justice
Rhodes-Vivour maintained that despite a portion in the PDP constitution that
provided that national officers of the party could be afforded two months
notice before a vote of no confidence is passed against them, he said that such
national officers could also be removed during a convention or congress. “There
can be no doubt after examining articles of the PDP constitution, that the
National Convention has enormous and sweeping powers over the activities of the
party,” the apex court stated. It held that the convention the PDP held in Port
Harcourt was legally valid as it was not done in breach of any court order.
“We have
come to the conclusion that the National Convention acted in accordance with
the PDP constitution. “The National Convention was correct to dissolve the
National Executive Committee and appoint a National Working Committee. The
action was not in breach of any court order”, the court held. It, therefore,
vacated the majority judgment of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of
Appeal, which had on February 7, in a two to one decision of a three-man panel
of justices, declared Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic PDP National
Chairman. The Supreme Court faulted the appellate court for solely anchoring
its verdict on Article 47(c) of the PDP constitution, rather than a holistic
interpretation of the entire statute. “It is our conclusion that contrary to
the decision of the lower court, suit FHC/PH/SC/524/16 was not an abuse of
court process. “The trial court and the dissenting judgement of the Appeal
Court are therefore correct. “Rather, we hold that it was the 1st Respondent
(Sheriff) that was guilty of the offence of abuse of court process.”
Consequently, the court awarded a cost of N250, 000 each, against Sheriff and
Prof. Wale Oladipo who acted as National Secretary of the party under him.
Earlier, the apex court also dismissed a preliminary objection that Sheriff and
Oladipo filed against the appeal. Aside the CJN, other members of the apex
court panel that concurred with the lead verdict were Justices Tanko Muhammad,
Kayode Ariwoola and Dattijo Muhammad.
Though
Sheriff was absent at the Supreme Court when the judgment was delivered,
Markafi attended the proceeding. Other stakeholders in the party that were
present in court included Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State; Governor
Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido and
former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha. Others
were Prof. Jerry Gana, Chief Tom Ikimi, Dr. Ben Obi, Raymond Dokpesi, Chief
Bode George, Chief Dan Orbih, chairman of the Edo State chapter of the party
among many other party enthusiasts. Victory electrifies Wadata House Following
the judgment, Makarfi flanked by party chieftains, moved over to the party’s
national secretariat for a triumphant return. His presence immediately
electrified the secretariat as staff and well-wishers dashed out to see him.
Dressed in
traditional outfit with a cap to match, Makarfi, flanked by party faithful
beamed with smiles as he waved to hordes of supporters who thronged the party
secretariat in anticipation of his arrival, about an hour after the Supreme
Court ruling earlier in the day. Exchanging pleasantries with all and sundry,
the former Kaduna State governor also took time to appreciate local drummers,
some of whom headed for the party secretariat from the Supreme Court premises.
Makarfi was accompanied to the secretariat by party chieftains including Sule
Lamido, Ibrahim Shekarau, Liyel Imoke, Ayodele Fayose, Peter Obi, Ina Ciroma
and Professor Jerry Gana amongst others. Speaking to newsmen at the party
secretariat he said there was “no victor and no vanquished” as he said the
party will forge reconciliation with all elements in the party. He promised
that expanded caucus, National Executive Committee, NEC and Board of Trustees,
BoT meetings would hold between next Monday and Tuesday to give direction to
the party.
Judgement
means nothing to us in APC — Abdullahi Reacting to the development yesterday,
National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said the court
judgement meant nothing to his party, saying: “For us, it has no implication,
it has no meaning for us,” the spokesman of the ruling party said. Chief Doyin
Okupe, who recently left the PDP was also nonetheless bothered saying he had no
regrets over his decision to leave the party even as he wished the PDP well.
“It is a good judgement and the contending parties have been sufficiently tamed
and will not create any further division. I knew the judgement was coming and I
knew it was going to be either A or B, so you can give me credit because it was
not going to affect my own decision,” the former PDP chieftain said. A high
level source in the Sheriff faction told Vanguard, yesterday that the Sheriff
faction was expected to examine the judgment with its lawyers last night. The
meeting was to commence by 8.00 p.m. Jonathan, Fayose, Ekweremadu, others react
Former President Goodluck Jonathan led the chorus of congratulations and
admonitions to the Makarfi leadership to declare a no victor no vanquished policy
aimed at further dousing the crisis in the party. Among others who also spoke,
yesterday, were Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu;
Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State; the Forum of former ministers, immediate
past party spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh among others.
Jonathan in
a statement on Facebook also praised the Supreme Court jurists saying: “As I
congratulate the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee, I want to strongly urge
them not to see this as a victory of a section of the party, but as a moral
victory of constitutionality over arbitrariness. “As a senior member of the
party, I hereby call on all those who left the party because of its leadership
issues to return to their natural home and build the PDP. “The PDP is an
inclusive vehicle, not an exclusive one. We see Nigerians as human beings
deserving of the rule of law, separation of powers and a free market economy
that provides a level playing ground for all.” Senator Ekweremadu in his
reaction said: “The ruling party has indeed profited from the prolonged power
contest, not just in terms of defections, but also in the unchallenged
degeneration of democratic values, rule of law, electoral practice, and the
economy because the PDP has been too distracted to keep them on their toes.
“Importantly, I call on our party leadership and elders to immediately initiate
an all-inclusive peace, reconciliation, and rebuilding process to reunite
everybody under the big umbrella and reinvigorate the biggest party in Africa
to bounce back to the rescue of the suffering masses of Nigeria come 2019”.
Supreme
Court Verdict: It is victory for Nigerians, democracy – Fayose Ekiti State
Governor and Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, Mr.
Ayodele Fayose has described the Supreme Court judgment, affirming the Senator
Ahmed Makarfi led National Caretaker Committee as the authentic leadership of
the PDP as “victory for democracy and the entire people of Nigeria who are
suffering from the All Progressives Congress (APC) misrule.” The governor, who
reacted to the judgment in Abuja said: “With today’s judgment, PDP can now play
its role as opposition party and prepare to take over power in 2019.” According
to his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka,
Governor Fayose called on genuine members of the party to come together for its
repositioning, repackaging and strengthening. Governor Fayose, who maintained
there would be no victor and no vanquished, said: “The ultimate winner is
democracy which cannot survive without a virile opposition and the entire
people of Nigeria who are already yearning for a return of the PDP, having been
short-changed by the APC.” On his part, Governor Nyesom Wike said the court
victory would lead to the PDP returning to power in 2019. “We have tested them
for two years, and Nigerians are suffering. Nigerians are dying, and there is
insecurity everywhere. It has never been like this. This opposition will lead
us to power in 2019.
“Now, we have a government, and we have a
party that says there will be no opposition. If there is no opposition, there
will be no democracy. “ Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, in his reaction
issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, hailed the Supreme
Court for the ruling which he said has put to an end the protracted leadership
crisis that had bedevilled the party. “I congratulate members of our great
party particularly the National Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and members of
the National Caretaker Committee for this well deserved victory. It is a
victory for the Board of Trustees, Governors Forum of the party, National
Assembly Caucus, State Chairmen’s Forum and other stakeholders.” Former
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State on his part said: “I am glad the
whole saga is over. Its time for rebuilding of the party, especially at the
National level, it is time for the Senator Amodu Sheriff group to get
themselves re-integrated into the party.” Forum of ex-PDP Ministers reacts The
Forum of former PDP ministers on its part described the judgment as “one of the
most celebrated cases of our time”, adding that it was in tandem with the
wishes of party members. Speaking to newsmen after a meeting of the forum
yesterday, chairman of the forum, and former Minister for Special Duties, Tanimu
Kabir Turaki, said the judgment gave hope for the country’s democracy. While he
hailed Makarfi for his steadfastness, Tanimu also congratulated other organs of
the party as well as staff of the party.
“We urge the committee to make necessary
arrangement to consolidate the gains and bring all members back to the fold.
Chief Metuh on his part in a press statement in Abuja, called on Dr. Jonathan
to come on board and “assist in navigating the waters. Indeed, his advice,
goodwill, experience and democratic credentials are needed now, more than ever
before, to help the party navigate through this very important period in its
history. He also said the judgment should be seen as a “no victor, no
vanquished situation.” Speaking in the same vein, chairman of the Edo State
chapter of the party, Chief Dan Orbih said: “It is a victory for true
democracy. This victory will give the opportunity of exploring the alternative
to change the APC federal government come 2019. Democracy without viable
opposition will lead to dictatorship. “By this singular verdict, Nigerians have
been reassured there is bright light at the end of the tunnel where they will
have the opportunity to vote APC out of government.” Reacting, factional
chairmen of the party in Lagos State, Messrs Moshood Salvador and Segun Adewale
hailed the judgment. Salvador said: “This judgment goes beyond the PDP
intra-politics but actually a successful surgery on the political stability of
Nigeria which has been very volatile as a result of the diabolical attempt by the
APC to “kill” the PDP.
On his part,
Adewale said: “The verdict of the Supreme Court is to me a ‘no victor, no
vanquished’ situation. It is a victory for democracy and the Nigerian people.
The fact that this great party stood through this most difficult and
challenging times with the preponderance of its members and structures across
the country still intact speaks volumes of the strong ideology that binds us
together as a family.” It is a family quarrel, says PDP Senate Caucus The
Senate caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday hailed the
Supreme Court judgement which declared the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the
party, Senator Ahmed Markafi, as the substantive chairman of the opposition
party. At the chambers yesterday, Plenary did not start early, as PDP members
moved round the chamber to congratulate one another. For over twenty minutes,
Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, APC, Osun Central could not control
them for plenary session to commence for the day as he continually called on
names of PDP senators to seat down for Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to
preside. Addressing jounalists, Senator Akpabio, who described the judgment as
monumental, said that it was a no victor, no vanquishes situation, since it was
a family fight.
He also said
the party would extend the olive branch to Modu Sheriff and all other aggrieved
members of the party, adding that the blood remained same. Akpabio noted that
nobody would be penalized, saying “a monumental event has happened in our dear
country, that event is the fact that the seemingly, intractable problem of the
tussle of the chairmanship of the PDP has been settled by the Supreme Court and
that was settled in favour of all Nigerians and all PDP faithful in Nigeria and
all APC members who love democracy. “We were worried and eager to have a
vibrant alternative so that in future, they could join the change The caucus is
very delighted with what has occurred. It was not unexpected, in view of the
fact that we believe strongly that the Supreme Court is a court of justice and
that God is a God of justice and that justice was going to prevail. “But on our
part, we do not want to lose any member and so we are describing that victory
as no victor, no vanquish. It was a family quarrel and, therefore, the blood
remains the same, the blood of the PDP remains in the veins of both sides and,
therefore, we are saying today that with the decision of the Supreme Court, we
must come back together as a family and we have, indeed, come back together as
a family. “We are calling on all those who went on exile in the course of the
struggle, in the course of the seeming problem of the chairmanship to return
home, the doors are open, nobody will be penalised, whether you were a member
of the State House of Assembly, or House of Representatives or whether you are
a senator. ‘’We are very prepared to receive our brothers back and we believe
that some of them went on exile because there were problems in the house, now
that the problem has been totally settled and the PDP has come back as a very
strong alternative and a very viable one for that matter, they should come back
from exile.”
SOURCE: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/pdp-s-court-judgment-resets-2019-politics/
SOURCE: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/pdp-s-court-judgment-resets-2019-politics/
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