PDP: Sheriff invaded our secretariat with APC govs, police should arrest him now

The Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the inspector-general of police (IGP) to immediately arrest and prosecute Ali Modu Sheriff.

Accusing the factional chairman of disobeying a court order, the committee said “Sheriff in collaboration with some APC governors and members invaded our party secretariat on Monday June 13, 2016”.

Reacting to the issuance of a certificate of return to Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, the committee said the action of Sheriff was utter disobedience and disrespect to a court judgment.

The PDP faction condemned the attitude of Sheriff and urged security agencies to live up to their responsibilities before Sheriff brought the judiciary to ridicule.

“We are shocked at the attitude of the former national chairman of our great party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who has become an authority in the country with flagrant disobedience of the Nigerian constitution, the Electoral Act and the PDP constitution without being arrested or detained by security agencies. Is he above the law? If we may ask,” asked Dayo Adeyeye, spokesman of the committee, in a statement.

“Justice Abdullah Mohammed Liman’s judgment on Monday was superior to all other court rulings, ex-parte orders or interlocutory injunctions procured by Senator Sheriff and his co-travellers, adding that his reliance on Justice Okon Abang’s ruling of June 30 was an attempt to confuse unsuspecting members of the public as he had done in previous times.

“You will recall that Senator Sheriff in collaboration with some APC governors and members invaded our party secretariat on Monday June 13, 2016 laying claims to a non-existing court order; and he has started again after a competent court issued a judgment upholding the decision of our national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers state which constituted the PDP national caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the party for 90 days, and to conduct another convention that will elect new officers of the party. Following this, we are calling on the police to do the needful by arresting Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, his co-travellers and Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen for disobeying court judgment.”

The statement added that campaign had commenced for the governorship election in Edo state, and that “the law as it stands only recognises Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the authentic and only candidate of the PDP in the September 10, 2016 election in the state.”