A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Abuja on Wednesday sacked Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party. But the judgment did little to assuage Sheriff’s faction of the party as it has commenced its own party electoral process to produce its candidate in the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.
Justice Valentine Ashi held that Sheriff’s ascension to office was unlawful as it was based on amended provision of the PDP Constitution said to be illegally introduced in December 2014. His chairmanship according to the judge was a nullity, lacking any form of legitimacy.
The court consequently made an order restraining all persons who became national officers of the party by virtue of the amended Article 47, Rule 6 of the party’s constitution, from further parading themselves in the said capacities. Sheriff falls under this category.
The judge further nullified the amendment of the said provision which he ruled was done in clear violation of the mandatory provisions of Article 66 (2) and (3) of the party’s constitution.
By the ruling, Sheriff has ceased to be the chairman of the beleaguered opposition party which has been caught in a cauldron of turmoil since losing to the ruling APC.
