The Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee has said it is not bothered by the ruling of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which reportedly affirms the leadership of Ali Modu Sheriff.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, spokesperson for the Caretaker Committee, Dayo Adeyeye, argued that the ruling did not in any way validate Modu Sheriff as the national chairman of the PDP.
He also insisted that the ruling did not stop the upcoming national convention of the party slated for Port Harcourt, Rivers state on August 17, 2016, saying that the issue of the convention was not brought before the court.
Adeyeye, who displayed copy of the ruling, told newsmen, “On the widely reported “ORDERS” purported to have been made by Hon. Justice Okon Abang, it is important to note the following:
*The motion seeking to restrain the PDP from conducting the proposed 17th August, 2016 National Convention has not been heard by the Court and no date has been fixed for the hearing of same.
*What was before the Court yesterday was the issue of who is the authentic legal Counsel for the PDP as between Ferdinand Orbih, SAN and O.O. Fakunle, SAN.
“The Court in determining the question of Legal representation held that the appointment of O.O. Fakunle, SAN by Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff was acceptable to the Court.
“It must be emphasized that at no stage did the Hon. Judge set aside the judgment of Justice A.M. Liman of the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court, which could have led to the dissolution of the National Caretaker Committee.
“An Order validating Sheriff as National Chairman could not have arisen from the issue of proper legal representation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the portion of the ruling relating to this is herein- under reproduced:
“Though I have powers to nullify the decision of the Port Harcourt Division that recognized Makarfi Leadership, I will not do so because there is no application to that effect before me. I will, however allow the Court of Appeal to do justice to that”
“This is necessary because proceedings of Courts of Law should not be subject of subjective manipulation. We are a law abiding Committee and will always continue to operate within the ambit of the law.
“It is not possible in Law that a Judge of a Court of record will acknowledge the existence of a valid judgment and proceed to make the kind of Orders purportedly attributed to him.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen; it should be very clear to you now that the ruling of yesterday did not at any point hand over the Leadership of PDP to Sen. Ali Modu sheriff, it did not declare the Sen. Makarfi led Caretaker Committee illegal and did not stop the proposed 17th August, 2016 National Convention.”
Sheriff had hailed the judgment, saying that orders made by Justice Abang, was recognition of his leadership of the party.
