Former Kaduna governor, Ahmed Makarfi, appointed Saturday as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party caretaker committee, has denied reports that his committee had been sacked by a court.
Mr. Makarfi’s appointment was “annulled” by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, before another court countered the order.
In a statement on Thursday, Mr. Makarfi said it was a “misinformation” to say that the caretaker committee had been sacked.
“This is not true. It is reckless misrepresentation of facts, and distortion of information by certain aggrieved members of our party, to mislead the members of the public,” he said.
He said that Mr. Buba did not make an order dissolving the Caretaker Committee, arguing that an order of Court could only be made if the court was presented with either a Motion Ex-Parte or Motion on Notice which the Court hears and makes appropriate order as deemed necessary.
“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,” Mr. Makarfi explained.
“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.”
He said that during the proceedings of Tuesday May 24, 2016, counsel to the
plaintiff, R. A. Oluyede drew the attention of the court to the fact that the order of Court dated May 12, 2016 had not been complied with and that the 2nd Defendant had gone ahead to conduct election into the offices of: i. National Chairman, ii. National Secretary, iii. National Auditor.
He said the PDP was aware of the Order of Mr. Buba to the effect that the PDP “should not conduct election in the offices of :-i) National Chairman, ii) National Secretary, (iii) National Auditor.”
Mr. Makarfi noted that in compliance to the order, the National Convention of the PDP did not conduct election into the above offices or any offices at all.
“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,” he further submitted.
“No orders of injunction or any order whatsoever is granted or exists against appointing Caretaker Committee for the PDP.
“The PDP is aware of the ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Port-Harcourt (as advertised) in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/524/2016, which orders are extensive, far-reaching and self-explanatory.”
Mr. Makarfi said certain members of the PDP who were affected by the resolution of the National Convention had resorted to “desperation and manipulation” of judicial proceedings. He noted that on the grounds that the court had directed the Inspector General of Police to ensure compliance with the order, the PDP, as party, would cooperate fully with the IGP and the Nigeria Police in ensuring maximum compliance with the Court order dated May12, 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,” he said.
“As at today, the only order that is direct, specific and subsisting on the National Convention is that of A. M Liman of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt.”
Mr. Makarfi argued that the ruling of Justice Buba neither touched nor concerned the National Convention of the Party, but acknowledged that a Motion on Notice to that effect was pending before Buba.
“But until that motion is moved and/or granted or struck-out there is no adverse judicial pronouncement on the proceedings at the National Convention of the PDP held on Saturday May 21. 2016,” he stated.
“Moreover, a Court of coordinate jurisdiction (another Federal High Court) sitting in Port Harcourt, has given orders deemed appropriate (in the well-considered views/opinion of the Court) in respect of specific issues bordering on the outcome of the National Convention held on Saturday May 21, 2016.
“The said order of Liman J. subsists and specific on the issue as against that of Buba J. which only granted an injunction against conducting elections into certain offices as listed above, and the Party never conducted election into those offices as directed by the Court.”
Mr. Makarfi urged members to be law abiding, and appealed to aggrieved members to consider the ultimate interest of the party, as their individual aspirations could only be realized with a united and well positioned PDP.
He assured that steps were already being taken to reconcile aggrieved members and all grievances within the 90 days tenure of the caretaker committee.
