Federal High Court Re-Affirms Sheriff’s Sack As PDP National Chairman

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has re-affirmed the sack of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The court, presided over by Justice Nwamaka Ogbonnaya, reaffirmed the sack on the ground that the judgment of Justice Valentine Ashi, which nullified his appointment on June 29 has not been set aside or vacated and is therefore subsisting.

The court further held that all actions taken by Sen Sherif are null, void and of no effect since the earlier order of Justice Ashi remains binding

The Court restrained Sen. Sheriff from further parading himself as the National Chairman of the PDP.

Justice Ogbonnaya also ruled that Sen. Sherif should stop taking any action or convening any meeting in the name of the PDP, until the earlier judgment of Justice Valentine Ashi is set aside or vacated.

Justice Ashi had in his judgment nullified the 2014 PDP Constitution amendment upon which Senator Sheriff is said to have been appointed as PDP Chairman.

The court described the amendment of the party’s constitution as illegal and a violation of the Electoral Act and, therefore, declared all actions carried out with the document, including anybody parading him or herself as officer of the party as illegal.

The leadership of the party has been faced with series of court orders after the controversial Port Harcourt National Convention which gave birth to the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee.

Sen. Sheriff had challenged the legality of the Caretaker Committee, insisting he is the rightful leader of the party.

However, the court 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 “, Justice Ashi said.

Source: channelstv.com