Encomium
Following the controversies surrounding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Supreme Court had on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 brought an end to the many disagreements lingering in and out of the party as the court headed by a five-man panel of Justices handed the mantle of leadership to Senator Ahmed Markafi as the genuine National Chairman, while Ali Modu Sheriff was removed.
The Supreme Court justices was led by Justice Rhodes Vivour who read the judgement as it relates to the various applications. He said the judgment did not declare the conduct of the PDP national convention as illegal and that the national convention did not violate any court orders.
Reading the judgement, Justice Vivour explains how the national convention should not have been disregarded by the Appeal Court. He stated that the subject matter concerns Article 33 of PDP’s Constitution, which states:
* There shall be a national convention.
* All members of the party shall be bound by the decisions of leaders from the national convention.
* Article 33 states the supremacy of the national convention.
* Article 35 allows for the deputy national chairman.
* Article 47 states the party may remove the national leader after two years.
* A national officer can be removed without a vote of no confidence.
As a result of the contest between the Senator Ahmed Markafi’s faction and Ali Modu Sheriff’s group, many people have since switched over from the party. However, it has been proven by the Supreme Court that the National Convention has full authorities over the party as required by law.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, July 12, 2017, relieved Ali Modu Sheriff of his office as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party and in the same vein, Senator Ahmed Markafi who is the caretaker Committee chairman was formally made the genuine party leader against all odds.
– CHIKA OKORIE
