PDP says their party convention slated for August 17th in
Rivers state will still hold despite
yesterday's court order by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High court,
stopping the convention. Read the party's press statement below:
The Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by
the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, CON
has reacted to the Ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday July 28,
2016, presided over by the controversial Judge, Justice Okon Abang describing
it as objectionable, questionable and very strange to say the least in the
history of Nigeria Judiciary.
The Party in a statement by its Spokesman, Prince Dayo
Adeyeye declared that what Justice Okon Abang did today is to Seat on an Appeal
over the Court of competent and coordinate jurisdiction and that’s what makes
his Interlocutory Order very strange. The Judgment of the Federal High Court in
Port Harcourt was very clear that the National Caretaker Committee was duly
constituted and recognized; and in line with that, the scheduled National
Convention for August 17, 2016 still holds.
We have just received information that Justice Okon Abang of
the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an Order of Interlocutory
Injunction stopping our scheduled National Convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers
State, but we want to state that the Judgment of the 4th of July, 2016 supersedes
any Ex-Parte Order or Interlocutory Injunctions. So, our National Convention
will hold as scheduled in Port Harcourt, Rivers State” Prince Adeyeye said.
Let Nigerians recall the two former Judgments before the
Port Harcourt Judgment, declared that Senator Sheriff is not qualified to be a
National Chairman given that the PDP Constitution 2014 which he claimed brought
him to power is not in existence and therefore, null and void.
The PDP wants Nigerians to know that Justice Okon Abang is
deliberately engaging in acts of derailing the Country’s democracy given the
fact that his Court is not an Appeal Court that can set aside any Judgment. He
has penchant for abuse of court processes and actions of legal impunity. This
Judge Nigerians will recall, issued Judgment against the Governor of Abia State
that led to INEC re-issuing another Certificate of Return to a man who did not
contest election thereby causing unnecessary hardship on the people of that
State. He also issued an Order to INEC to recognize Senator Sheriff’s
candidates in Edo and Ondo states before they could even plan their purported
congress in Edo.
In today’s Case, this same Judge out rightly denied the PDP
representation in Court which is unheard of by serving the Plaintiff (Sheriff
& Co.) who instituted the Case also as PDP (defendants). His excesses are
extremely absurd, strange and unbecoming of a Judge who enjoys putting the
Judiciary on the spot. We therefore bring this matter before the highest level
of Judiciary in the Country to stop this Judge forthwith from waging war
against the PDP.
We are equally calling on Nigerians and the international
community to compel Nigeria Judiciary to address Justice Abang’s excesses
before he kills our hard earned democracy.
However, the Party is law abiding and therefore, will apply
for Stay of Execution of this Order and also Appeal it.
Finally, the Party calls on all its members and teaming
supporters nationwide to remain calm and law abiding and be rest assured that
the PDP National Convention will hold as scheduled and all preparation towards
the August 17, 2016 National Convention remains the same.
Signed:
Prince Dayo Adeyeye
Member, National Caretaker Committee
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