Factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, has insisted that he remains the national leader of the party.
Speaking with reporters on Thursday in Abuja, the former Borno State governor maintained that he remains the party’s Chairman until the Port Harcourt division of Appeal Court says otherwise.
The Abuja division of the court had yesterday affirmed the Sen. Ahmed Makrfi-led committee while describing the Sheriff’s faction of the PDP as illegal. Reacting to the ruling, Sheriff said, “I’m surprised at some of the reporting you media people are carrying, the issue in the lower court, is the issue of governorship of Ondo state.
“That issue is between the state chairmen and the chairmen of the other group, the court of appeal has not touched anything on who is the leader or who is the substantive national chairman of the PDP which is the issue in the court of appeal. The Supreme Court says the court of appeal is to hear that matter.
“If the court of appeal decides that they should hear that matter – saying Makarfi is the chairman, there is no issue like this, Ali Sheriff remains the substantive chairman of the PDP until the court of appeal sitting in Port Harcourt (gives judgement otherwise) – and the supreme court also ask the court now to go and hear that matter, therefore the issue of discussion therefore is between Jegede and Jimoh Ibrahim. We are not party to it. We will abide by any decision of the court, we are law-abiding citizens.
On the plans of the party to reconcile, Sheriff said, “We will reconcile, the thing is that being in court does not stop the parties from talking. PDP is one.” Makarfi had recently expressed readiness to negotiate with Sheriff in a bid to end the lingering leadership tussle in the party.
