I’m still in charge of PDP, Makarfi insists

Ahmed Makarfi says he is still the caretaker chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying no court sacked him, or any member of his committee.

Reacting to the recent ruling of a federal high court in Lagos, Makarfi said some aggrieved members of the PDP have been misleading the public.

He said the media misrepresented the ruling of Ibrahim Buba, a justice, insisting that the court did not declare his committee illegal.

“No orders of injunction or any order whatsoever is granted or exists against appointing caretaker committee for the PDP,” he said in a statement.

“Justice I. N. Buba did not make an order dissolving the caretaker committee. An order of court could only be made if the court is presented with either a motion ex-parte or motion on notice which the court hears and makes appropriate order(s) as deemed necessary. No court makes an order not sought.

“The plaintiffs in SUIT NO. FHC/L/CS/613/2016 had on Monday May 23, 2016 filed a motion on notice for the purpose of setting aside the national convention of the party held on Saturday May 21, 2016. The motion on notice is yet to be served on the defendant (the PDP being the 2nd defendant in the suit) as at today Wednesday 25 May, 2016.

“The suit comes up Friday May 27, 2016 for the hearing of all pending applications, including Motions for stay of proceeding/execution of the order of May 12, 2016 pending the Appeal already filed against the suit; motion to set-aside and/or vacate the order of May 12, 2016; motion for joinder of certain persons; motion on notice by way of notice of preliminary objection on ground of jurisdiction, among others.”

Makarfi said his committee will comply with the directive of the court which ordered suspension of election into the offices of the national chairman, national secretary, and national auditor pending the resolution of court cases.

He defended the decision of the PDP to dissolve its national working committee (NWC), accusing those who were displeased by the action of manipulating “judicial proceedings”.

“Aggrieved members of the PDP who were affected by the resolution of the national convention, being the supreme organ of the PDP, have resorted to desperation and manipulation of judicial proceedings,” he said.

“The national convention of the PDP, in the exercise of its powers under section 12.88 of the PDP constitution, dissolved the National Working Committee and appointed some of its members as caretakers Committee for the next ninety (90) days, to enable it pursue true reconciliation of its disputant members towards peaceful, amicable and political settlement of the disputes leading to the cases in court.

“As a party, we shall fully cooperate with the IGP and the Nigeria Police in ensuring maximum compliance with the Court order dated May 12, 2016 to the effect that no election should be conducted into the above offices, namely National Chairman, National Secretary, and National Auditor pending the resolution of the cases in Court.

“As a matter of fact, it is for this reason that the supreme organ of the party, the national convention resolved not to conduct election into all the offices of the Party.

Markafi said his committee was working towards reconciling the different factions in the party.

“Steps are already being taken to reconcile every aggrieved member, and to resolve all grievances with the ninety (90) days duration of the caretaker committee for the purpose of putting an end to needless litigation over issues that are purely internal affairs of our party,” he said.