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A five-man Supreme Court panel Wednesday upturned the judgement of an appellate court that validated former Borno State governor Ali Modu Sheriff as the substantial national chairman of Nigeria’s main opposition party, People’s Democratic Party.
In the unanimous judgement read by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, the court reinstated former Kaduna State governor Ahmed Makearfi as the leader of the party.
The court held that the May 21, 2016, convention of the PDP which removed Sheriff was legally constituted and acted within the bounds of the party’s constitution.
“Sets of documentary evidence before the court have shown that Sheriff’s appointment as acting chairman of the party ended with the resolution from the convention,” Justice Rhodes-Vivour said.
“The National Conventions of Political Parties are the supreme organs which control every other organs of the party.
“In the light of this, the highest organ of the party did not breach any laws by dissolving the national executive committee headed by Sheriff at that convention,’’ he said.
According to the court, the appointment of Makarfi-led caretaker committee is in line with the constitution of the party.
“The caretaker committee of the PDP led by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi is hereby affirmed as the authentic national leadership of the party.
“The judgment of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division delivered on Feb.27 is hereby set aside,’’ he held.
The panel also awarded N250, 000 cost against Sheriff.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that governors Nyesome Wike of Rivers, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti and former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau attended the session.
Many party faithful and chieftains including Markafi, Sen. Ben Obi, Chief Bode George, Chief Dayo Adeyeye, Prof. Jerry Gana, among others were also present in court.
Source: The Guardian
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