PDP Crisis: Sheriff, Makarfi Agree to Stop Verbal War...

BoT to consider Dickson’s report Supreme Court to hear suit challenging Makarfi’s appeal May 4

The turbulent reconciliation process in the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday showed signs of resurgence as both factions led by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi signed a ceasefire agreement to stop the verbal attacks against each other.

The undertaking came just as the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party warned leaders of the party against selfish ambition which it lamented is threatening to destroy the party.

The two warring parties which met under the auspices of the reconciliation committee headed by the Bayesla State Governor, Seirake Dickson, also agreed that they would work together with the committee to engender peace and genuine reconciliation in the party.

The agreement to this effect was contained in a communique signed by Hon. Ahmed Gulak and Hon. Bernard Mikko on behalf of the Sheriff-led leadership and Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Hon. Dave Iorhemba on behalf of the Makarfi faction.

The Chairman of the reconciliation committee, Dickson, and his deputy and former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, also signed the agreement.

The communique issued at the end of the meeting by the two factions, stated: “All actors of the party should desist from making derogatory, inflammatory and divisive statements against party officials, stakeholders and members.”

It further stated: “That the party should not dissipate its energy among itself but to focus on how to unite and be a formidable opposition capable of taking over power from the failed APC-led government.

“That all key actors in the on-going peace process should henceforth desist from making statements attacking each other and statements insinuating negative acts capable of dragging the party to the mud.

“In conclusion, all key actors in the PDP have agreed to work together with the National Reconciliation Committee led by Governor Dickson to engender peace and genuine reconciliation.”

Meanwhile, the BoT has warned leaders of the party against selfish ambition which it lamented is destroying the party.

The Chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jubril, stated this while receiving the report of the Dickson-led reconciliation committee.

Jibril dismissed plans to form a new party adding: “Any attempt by any member to leave PDP for an unborn party will not be a good decision.

He noted that while judiciary is doing its best to resolve the problem legally, the political solution should also be pursued.

The BoT chair said the board would meet with other organs of the party to see how a convention can be held before or latest by June.

Dickson had earlier cautioned the two factions, led by Sheriff and Makarfi to drop their ego and ambition for the unity of the party.

Yesterday’s meeting which took place at the Bayelsa State Government Lodge in Maitama, Abuja, saw the representatives of the feuding PDP factions exchanging handshakes and cracking jokes. Also at the meeting, was Sheriff’s Deputy, Cairo Ojougboh. They later posed for a group photograph with Dickson, thus signalling their acceptance to forge ahead with the peace talks.

The meeting with the BoT was held at the residence of the Chairman, Walid Jibril with some of the key leaders in attendance including, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Senator Stella Omu, and Abbah Gana.

However, the Supreme Court will on May 4, hear an objection filed against the hearing of an appeal brought before the court by the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Both the PDP and its National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, had filed two separate motions at the apex court challenging the competence of Makarfi’s appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal which restored the Sheriff-led leadership of the party.

The two motions dated March 16 and 21, 2017 are asking the apex court to strike out Makarfi’s appeal, on the grounds that he (Makarfi) does not have the authority to file the appeal on behalf of the PDP.

While the motion of the PDP was filed and argued by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), that of Sheriff was filed and argued by Akin Olujimi (SAN).

The two applicants in their separate motions are contending that by virtue of the Court of Appeal judgment, delivered on February 27, 2017 in Port Harcourt, the issue of authentic leadership for the PDP has been settled.

The applicants are also contending that since the Makarfi-led leadership had lost at the appellate court, they have no legal standing to file any appeal on behalf of the PDP as an appellant in the suit.

They also insisted that the appeal filed by Makarfi had become incompetent having been filed without the authorisation by the PDP or its leadership.

Meanwhile, the Makarfi faction, through its counsel, Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN) has filed a counter affidavit to the motions of PDP and Sheriff, praying the court to discountenance the two motions and allow the main appeal to be heard meritoriously.

Agabi is asking the court not to give audience to the Sheriff faction because it has no valid notice of appeal before the court and that being a party in the Port Harcourt case, they have right to bring the appeal before the court.

However, Justice Tanko Mohammed who presided over the five man panel of the court has given the Sheriff faction 21 days within which to react to the counter affidavit of the Makarfi group.

Justice Mohammed subsequently fixed May 4 to hear the two motions.

The Makarfi-led faction had filed an appeal at the Supreme Court to challenge the decision of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the Sheriff faction as the authentic leadership of the PDP.