PDP crisis: Sheriff writes INEC to stop convention

From Taiwo Amodu, Abuja
IN a move to halt the na­tional convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) the chairman of its dissolved national work­ing committee, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has writ­ten to the Independent National Electoral Com­mission, (INEC) not to observe the convention slated for August 17 in Port Harcourt
.
In a letter dated August 2, 2016, and addressed to INEC chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yaquub, Sheriff declared that the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee, a creation of the national convention of the main op­position party, was illegal and has no powers, under the PDP constitution, to convene the party’s Na­tional Convention.
Claiming ignorance of the scheduled convention, Sheriff said the electoral body and the general public should note that the PDP, under his leadership, was not planning any national convention as he has not been so authorised by the National Executive Com­mittee. He further claimed that any convention organ­ised by the Makarfi com­mittee would be in direct contempt of valid court or­ders, which accorded him recognition.
Spokesperson of the Ma­karfi led committee, Dayo Adeyeye said Sheriff’s ac­tion was not only meant to scuttle the forthcoming national convention, but, also, another clear evi­dence of his determination to destroy the PDP.
Adeyeye, in a statement, submitted that the ruling of Justice Okon Abang which Sheriff was relying on “is a mere narrative of the case before the Federal High Courts in Lagos and in Port Harcourt Divisions. It does not set aside or nullified the judgment of Justice Liman which has authenticated the May 21 national con­vention and the resolutions emanating therefrom.”
He further noted that “the ruling did not, any­where, direct INEC to do anything or not to do any­thing, to discharge or not to discharge any obliga­tion; to perform any func­tion or not to perform any function.
“In essence, it is a mere legal tale and the order having been made with­out any application be­fore him by either of the parties has no foundation in law.”
The PDP caretaker committee further re­called that Justice Valerie Arshi had, in a judgment, nullified the appoint­ment of Sheriff as chair­man of the party.

source: Sun News