Society Gists

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed the court judgment that sacked Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the party.

According to the Chairman of the party in the state, Hon. Sikirulahi Ogundele, the judgment would further deepen democracy in the country as it will embolden the party to forge ahead in its quest to claim power at the centre in 2019.

Speaking further in a press release signed on his behalf by the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Mr. Malik Olamilekan Ibitoye, Ogundele stressed that the judgment has cleared the air on the controversial issue.

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had on Monday declared that the May 21, 2016 National Convention of the PDP was duly constituted, declaring that the dissolution of the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee by that convention were valid.

In his judgment on the suit filed by the PDP against Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and others, Justice Abdullahi Liman declared that the appointment of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP to oversee its affairs was legal and in line with the provisions of the PDP constitution.

The court held that pursuant to the constitution of the party, the former Acting National Chairman had no powers to unilaterally postpone the properly constituted national convention on a day all delegates had converged on Port Harcourt, the host city.

Ogundele commended the judgment of the Court, which added that the appointment of the Senator Ahmed Markafi-led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is proper, saying that the judgment has made it clear that the PDP and lovers of democracy must come together to move the party and indeed Nigeria forward.

The state party chairman emphasised in the statement that time has come for the leaders and the founding fathers of the party to come together and chart a way forward, adding that what has been happening to the party in recent times are things that are common to any human society and that the end has come to the internal crises bedeveling the party.

He also used the opportunity to call on the factions of the PDP in Ogun State to embrace unity and form a formidable team in the state.

According to him, a house divided against itself cannot stand, and this is the best time for the factions of the party in the state to come under one umbrella.

“It is better we forget those things that divide us and see ourselves as one in Ogun State PDP. We cannot afford to be disunited if we want to take the centre stage in the state in the coming general elections.

“Our policy should be united we stand, divided we fall. Whatever has happened in the past should be put behind us so that we can move on as a party with all potentials to rise to greatness once again,” the statement read.

The accomplished politician however, congratulated Senator Ahmed Markafi and all the stakeholders in the party for the judgment, saying that better days have finally come for the party.