As expected, the alleged sack of Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff through the judgment of an Abuja High Court on Wednesday is generating controversies.
Justice Valentine Ashi had in the ruling delivered on Wednesday declared null and void the amendment to PDP Constitution in 2014, which led to the emergence of Sheriff as the party’s chairman, after the resignation of former Bauchi State governor, Adamu Muazu.
The judgment followed suit instituted by a chieftain of the PDP in Ondo state, Joseph Jero.
PDP was the sole defendant in the suit.
Specifically, the court declared “unconstitutional, null and void”, purported amendment of Article 47 Rule 6 of PDP Constitution, 2012, at a special National Convention the party held on December 10 and 11, 2014 on the basis that there was no compliance with mandatory provisions of Article 66 (2) and (3) of the party’s constitution before it was carried out.
The amended section stipulates zoning of the office of National Chairman of PDP which the Judge said was a violation of the Electoral Act.
“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,” the Court said.
Many had interpreted this as express dismissal of Sheriff who has been locked in a battle for the control of PDP with Senator Ahmed Markafi, the Caretaker Committee Chairman.
Makarfi was appointed to replace Sheriff at the emergency national convention of the party held in Port Harcourt in May by governors elected on the platform of PDP.
Though the Caretaker Committee Chairman now enjoys support of key stakeholders in the party, Sheriff had insisted he remained the national chairman of PDP.
But Sheriff insisted he remained the Chairman of the party, insisting that contrary to media reports, the court did not order his removal from office, Prof. Adewale Oladipo, National Secretary of Sheriff PDP faction said in a statement released some hours after the judgment.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the court only heard and delivered judgment on a matter concerning certain amendments in the PDP constitution, which has nothing to do with the election of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman or even that of his predecessor, Alhaji Adamu Muazu.
“Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was duly elected as the National Chairman of the PDP. He still holds office as the National Chairman and has not been removed by any court.
“We therefore urge those misleading the media and the unsuspecting public to desist from such. The media is also urged to always cross-check their facts before going to press,” Oladipo added.