The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has blamed what it called the powers that be at the federal level for its botched national convention.
It also extended the blame to Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja and the factional National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, saying that all of them conspired against the party to scuttle the convention.
Spokesperson for the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, stated this in a statement which outlined the resolutions arrived at the ill-fated convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Wednesday.
Adeyeye said the convention which was proposed to take place at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt was shifted to the state’s party secretariat on Aba Road, due to security personnel sealing off the initial venue.
He said the security agencies took the decision on the pretext of obeying the interlocutory order given by Justice Abang on Tuesday August 16, 2016 against holding the already convened national convention.
He said, “The public is aware that our party is law-abiding and it’s acting in compliance with the judgement of Justice Liman of the Federal High Court sitting here in Port Harcourt, which is in favour of all actions taken by the party’s highest decision-making organ at the national convention of May 21, 2016 held here in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“So far, there is no judgment overruling it which of course, such must come from the Court of Appeal. In addition, there is another existing order from a court of competent jurisdiction directing all concerned not to tamper with the convention.
“Notwithstanding, the powers that be at the federal level in conspiracy with the former National Chairman, Senator Sheriff, and his co-travellers carried out their act of legal and political disobedience with flagrant disregard to the tenets of democracy.”
Adeyeye said in view of these and other developments, the party convened an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
He added that the NEC meeting was inaugurated by the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, and the meeting took several decisions to reposition the party.
He added that the makeshift convention, which he said was held at the party secretariat, was attended by Makarfi, with delegates, which included PDP governors.
