By ‘Dotun Akintomide
Hours after the Supreme court ruling that sacked Alimodu Sherrif, confirming Ahmed Makarfi in his place as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was delivered, reactions have began to trail the apex court judgement.
Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode in a tweet said “shame on Sheriff” PDP is back in the right hands, The New Diplomat learnt from his social media handle.
“Praise the Lord! God has given us victory at Supreme Court. PDP is back in the right hands. Shame on Ali Modu Sheriff! Congrats to PDP!,” he wrote.
Also River State Governor, Nyesom Wike while speaking after the Supreme Court in Abuja on Wednesday through Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant Electronic Media, said: “This judgment shows that there will be opposition in Nigeria.
“I am very happy. Rivers people are very happy because we have no other party aside the PDP”.
The governor said that the PDP will emerge from the crisis stronger because all stakeholders will work hard to rebuild the party, urging Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his supporters to keep their word and work with other stakeholders in the interest of the party.
He also said that the former PDP Chairman called him last week to assure him that he will respect whatever decision reached by the Supreme Court .
“I urge them to keep their word. All of us will work together to re-position the party. The party will go back to the drawing board to move ahead “, the governor said.
He added: “I don’t see any reason why Sheriff will not be a part of the party. He spoke to me last week that whatever the situation he will remain in the party”.
He said that at the end of the day, it is expected that the Caretaker Committee Chairman of PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi will meet with all stakeholders to plan the time table for a national convention.
In a landmark judgment, the apex court held that Markafi remains the authentic National Chairman of PDP and consequently sacked Sheriff.
The Supreme Court also ordered Sheriff to vacate the National Secretariat of the party.
PDP has been experiencing leadership crisis since it lost the 2015 presidential election.
The crisis, however, heightened earlier in the year when an Appeal Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State affirmed Sheriff as the National Chairman of the party while sacking the Makarfi’s Caretaker Committee.
