I am the authentic chairman of PDP, says Sheriff

Ali Modu Sheriff, former governor of Borno state, has described the caretaker committee led by Ahmed Makarfi, also a former governor, as a group of “usurpers and a contraption” that was set up in defiance of valid court orders.

Sheriff told a federal high court in Port Harcourt that he remains the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and sought a vacation of the interim order restraining him from parading himself as the head of the party.

The PDP had sued Sheriff, Adewale Oladipo, former national secretary of the party, before Justice I. Liman.

But in a motion of notice filed through his counsel, Ajibola Oluyede, Sheriff prayed the court to revoke the previous order and hold that only he can preside over a convention or meeting where party leaders could be chosen.

Sheriff argued that the “authority and locus” to institute the suit on behalf of the party rests with him, and asked the court to dismiss the suit.

The caretaker committee was inaugurated at the party’s national convention in Port Harcourt. The national executive committee led by Sheriff was also dissolved, as well as the national working committee.

The party’s board of trustees (BoT), which earlier declared support for Makarfi, has taken over the control of the PDP.

Citing the legal tussle involving different factions, the BoT said it was in the best position to take charge since it was not involved in any suit.

The PDP headquarters was re-opened on Tuesday after a 9-day closure by the police as a result of the internal crisis.

On Wednesday, two members of the opposition party in the house of representatives announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the imbroglio.