Nine out of 12 members out of the defunct National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party have dissociated themselves from the suit filed by the former National Chairman of the party, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, against the party’s National Caretaker Chairman, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi.
They said that Sheriff didn’t seek their consent before filling the suit, adding that they remain committed to the actions taken at the party’s national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State, was removed from office alongside members of his NWC, at the convention.
The party took the action following the alleged expiration of their tenure.
In the suit, Sheriff said his tenure would end on December 11, 2018 since he replaced a former National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu, whose mandate he inherited.
Sheriff in the suit which he claimed to have filed on behalf of himself, the former NWC members and their deputies, also asked the court to set aside the decision of the national convention of the party.
In an affidavit which he deposed to, Sheriff through his counsel, Alex Izinyon (SAN), sought an ex-parte order to stop Makarfi from leading a caretaker committee which he alleged was unknown to the PDP’s constitution.
However, Sheriff’s deputy while serving as the national chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, said that he was not aware of the suit.
He said though Sheriff remained a friend to all the former members of the NWC, the interest of the party superseded that of an individual.
Secondus, who spoke on the telephone with our correspondent, said all the nine former members of the NWC, including a new convert, the former National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha, had resolved to support Makarfi and his team.
Secondus said, “Eight of us had two days ago, pledged our loyalty to Makarfi and we haven’t changed our stand on that.
“As a matter of fact, the former NOS, Mustapha, has joined us. Thus, nine of us are behind him. We didn’t ask Sheriff, who is a friend to us, to file any suit on our behalf.
“We didn’t meet to resolve to go to court or ask anyone to act on our behalf. We are going to write the court to say this. We are not a party of the case.
“ Sheriff is our friend, we are happy to say that. But we must protect the interest of the pay and millions of its members.
“This is not the time to allow personal ambition to destroy the collective interest and ambition of millions, who look up to the patty for salvation.”
Also, the party’s immediate past National Legal Adviser, Mr. Victor Kwom, said it was our correspondent that broke the news of the court case to him.
He said he had retired to Jos, the Plateau State capital after the end of his tenure in office.
He said, “Which case are you talking about? I’m not aware of any and I’m not part to any case against Makarfi. I’m in Jos, relaxing and resting. I didn’t ask anyone to sue on my behalf, please.”
But Sheriff said he would not react to the claim by his former colleagues in the NWC.
Speaking through his media aide, Inuwa Bwala, Sheriff said those who felt they were not carried along before he filed the case should go and tell the court.
“Let them go and inform the court. We won’t react to their reaction,” he said.
