Party shuns court order, says convention will hold as scheduled

dimeji akinloye

August 15, 2016 10:29 PM

The convention will hold on the ground that a federal high court in Port Harcourt had given a superior order for it to proceed.

PDP members at a convention

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction led by senator

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High court, Abuja, had on Monday, August 15, ruled that the convention be suspended pending the determination of an application by the Ali Modu Sheriff faction.

But in a statement issued hours later by the Makarfi faction's spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, the convention will hold on the ground that a federal high court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, had given a superior order for it to proceed.

The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn once again to another act of judicial recklessness by the honourable judge of the federal high court, Justice Okon Abang of the purported suspension of the PDP national convention holding in Port Harcourt, Rivers on Wednesday the 17 of August 2016.

“We wish to however state that a federal high court in Port Harcourt Rivers state has earlier in the day given a comprehensive order wherein the honourable judge specifically ordered the PDP to proceed with the convention as scheduled without hindrance.

“Indeed, his lordship while given the order mandated all relevant agencies including the Police, DSS and INEC to cooperate with the party in organising a hitch-free national convention.

“You may also wish to note that the federal high court in Port Harcourt, Rivers state gave an interlocutory order while Justice Okon Abang, Abuja, gave an interim order. The order of Port Harcourt is clearly superior and earlier in time to the interim order given by Justice Okon Abang.

“In the light of the above, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a law abiding party is obeying the order of the Port Harcourt, federal high court until set aside by any competent court of jurisdiction.

“In view of the above, the 2016 repeat national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will continue as scheduled as we welcome all delegates, party leaders, other critical stakeholders, INEC monitoring team and other friends of PDP to Port Harcourt, Rivers state while wishing all our members and supporters a successful national convention.”

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Sheriff had on Sunday, August 14, vowed to stop the convention from taking place, arguing that the party's Board of Trustees did not honour even one out of the conditions his faction listed for peace to reign in the party.

dimeji akinloye