National Convention still holds on August 17th- PDP insist
PDP says their party convention slated for August 17th in Rivers state
will still hold despite yesterday's court order by Justice Okon Abang
of the Federal High court, stopping the convention. Read the party's
press statement below:
The Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the Chairman
of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, CON has
reacted to the Ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday July
28, 2016, presided over by the controversial Judge, Justice Okon Abang
describing it as objectionable, questionable and very strange to say the
least in the history of Nigeria Judiciary.
The
Party in a statement by its Spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye declared that
what Justice Okon Abang did today is to Seat on an Appeal over the
Court of competent and coordinate jurisdiction and that’s what makes his
Interlocutory Order very strange. The Judgment of the Federal High
Court in Port Harcourt was very clear that the National Caretaker
Committee was duly constituted and recognized; and in line with that,
the scheduled National Convention for August 17, 2016 still holds.
We have just received information that Justice Okon Abang of the Federal
High Court in Abuja has granted an Order of Interlocutory Injunction
stopping our scheduled National Convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers
State, but we want to state that the Judgment of the 4th of July, 2016
supersedes any Ex-Parte Order or Interlocutory Injunctions. So, our
National Convention will hold as scheduled in Port Harcourt, Rivers
State” Prince Adeyeye said.
Let Nigerians recall the two former Judgments before the Port Harcourt
Judgment, declared that Senator Sheriff is not qualified to be a
National Chairman given that the PDP Constitution 2014 which he claimed
brought him to power is not in existence and therefore, null and void.
The PDP wants Nigerians to know that Justice Okon Abang is deliberately
engaging in acts of derailing the Country’s democracy given the fact
that his Court is not an Appeal Court that can set aside any Judgment.
He has penchant for abuse of court processes and actions of legal
impunity. This Judge Nigerians will recall, issued Judgment against the
Governor of Abia State that led to INEC re-issuing another Certificate
of Return to a man who did not contest election thereby causing
unnecessary hardship on the people of that State. He also issued an
Order to INEC to recognize Senator Sheriff’s candidates in Edo and Ondo
states before they could even plan their purported congress in Edo.
In today’s Case, this same Judge out rightly denied the PDP
representation in Court which is unheard of by serving the Plaintiff
(Sheriff & Co.) who instituted the Case also as PDP (defendants).
His excesses are extremely absurd, strange and unbecoming of a Judge who
enjoys putting the Judiciary on the spot. We therefore bring this
matter before the highest level of Judiciary in the Country to stop this
Judge forthwith from waging war against the PDP.
We are equally calling on Nigerians and the international community to
compel Nigeria Judiciary to address Justice Abang’s excesses before he
kills our hard earned democracy.
However, the Party is law abiding and therefore, will apply for Stay of Execution of this Order and also Appeal it.
Finally, the Party calls on all its members and teaming supporters
nationwide to remain calm and law abiding and be rest assured that the
PDP National Convention will hold as scheduled and all preparation
towards the August 17, 2016 National Convention remains the same.
Signed:
Prince Dayo Adeyeye
Member, National Caretaker Committee
