From left: Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, (2ND left) Alhaji Ahmed Gulak met with their lawyers before the commencement of court sitting

FEMI IPAYE

The Ahmed Makarfi faction of Nigeria’s former ruling Peoples Democratic Party secured the first victory in its battle against a faction of the party led by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff at the Supreme Court on Monday as the apex court began the hearing of a suit which will determine which of the two contenders is the authentic executive of the party.

The apex court, in its first ruling on the matter,  struck out an application by Sheriff who was recognised as the National Chairman of the PDP by virtue of an Appeal Court ruling of about three months ago.

The Sheriff faction had in the application asked the Supreme Court not to hear the appeal of the Markarfi faction against the Appeal Court ruling.

The dismissal of the application by the panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Walter Onnoghen, the Chief Justice of the Federation, has opened the way for the expected titanic legal battle for the control of the soul of PDP between the Makarfi and the Sheriff factions.

Chieftains of PDP from both factions were at the court to witness the round one victory of the Makarfi faction as captured in these pictures by FEMI IPAYE

Senator Ali Modu Sheriff (left) meet with his lawyers led by Chief Akin Olujimi( SAN) before the court began sitting

SITTING FROM RIGHT: Prince Dayo Adeye, spokesperson for the Makarfi group, Senators Ahmed Markafi, Ben Obi and Chief Olabode George, former deputy national chairman of PDP

Left: Professor Adeniran, former minister of education and Chief Olabode George

Chief Olabode George and Senator Ahmed Makarfi