PDP Crisis: Makarfi committee insists on holding convention

TheNational Caretaker Committee of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday said reports that an Abuja High Court nullified it’s existence was untrue.

The committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, told newsmen in Abuja that several reports he read about the court ruling were inaccurate.

It will be recalled that a High Court sitting in Abuja presided over by Justice Okon Abang on Thursday nullified the ruling of Port Harcourt High Court recognising the caretaker committee.

According to Adeyeye,‎ the motion seeking to restrain the PDP from conducting the proposed Aug. 17 national convention has not been heard by the court.

”And no date has been fixed for the hearing of the same.

”What was before the court yesterday was the issue of who is the authentic legal counsel for the PDP as between Ferdinand Orbih and O. O. Fakunle.

”The court in determining the question of legal representation held that the appointment of O. O. Fakunle by Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff was acceptable to the court.

”It must be emphasised that at no stage ‎did the judge set aside the judgment of justice A. M. Liman of the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court which could have led to the dissolution of the committee.

”An order validating She‎riff as national chairman could not have arisen from the issue of proper legal representation.”

Adeyeye sad the portion of the ruling relating to the matter read: ”though I have powers to nullify the decision of the Port Harcourt Division that recognised Makarfi leadership, I will not do so.

”This is because there is no application to that effect before me. I will however allow the court of appeal to do justice to that.”

He said for Nigerians to keep faith in court processes, proceedings of courts of law should not be subject of subjective manipulation.

Adeyeye said it was impossible in law that a judge of a court of record will acknowledge the existence of a valid judgment and proceed to make the ‎kind of orders purportedly attributed to him.

He said: ”let it be known that the convention of the PDP will hold.

”The caretaker committee will not relent in its efforts to ensure a hitch free, free and fair convention where we will hand over on Aug. 17 to credible people.”