A Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt Friday confirmed former Borno State governor Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In doing so, the appellate set aside a Federal High Court judgement delivered Justice by Mohammed Liman which recognised Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the chairman of the party.
The three judges of the court in a unanimous decision agreed that the Modu Sheriff is the chairman of the PDP.
Senators Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff have tested their legal muscles through various litigations in many courts in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, with each getting favourable orders and directives with the attendant effect on stability in the party.
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had last year gave legitimacy to Makarfi as the chairman of the party, while another court of coordinate jurisdiction in Abuja, headed by Justice Okon Abang, had ruled that Sheriff should be recognised as the chairman.
Both Makarfi and Sheriff have been operating from satellite offices following the closure of the national headquarters of the party, at Wadata Plaza in Abuja.
The crisis in the PDP is also raging in many states where Makarfi and Sheriff share the loyalty of members. (The Guardian)