Sheriff, our Chairman? No way, say PDP govs; battle for soul of party goes to Supreme Court

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum on Friday kicked against the outcome of the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State that reinstated Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the Party, describing it as a rape on democracy.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Friday, the Chairman of the Forum who is also the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose, hinted that the Party would be heading for the Supreme Court to challenge the judgement.
This came just as Fayose confirmed that the Federal Ministry of Finance has reversed itself over N1 billion
Budget support Facility for the month of January this year belonging to the state earlier seized by the Federal Government as a letter to this effect had been transmitted to the state on Thursday .
Fayose, while describing the Judgement as action against the will of the people, said: “If the people truly symbolises what a party is, then the machinations of our detractors and the anti-democratic organs will not prevail”.
According to him,”we commend the minority judgement of the lower court and we believe the truth will prevail
“Thank God we have another opportunity to seek justice at the Supreme Court, which I believe will not be delayed or denied.
“The party will appeal the judgement as we believe in the ability of the judiciary to do justice. However, we plead with our members, leaders and supporters to calm down as we keep hope alive.
“If this is a price to pay, to keep our democracy alive and opposition strengthened, we are prepared to go the whole hug
“The party organs will meet shortly to take concrete steps and decisions on the way forward”.
Fayose also told newsmen that the state had received an official communication from the Federal Ministry of Finance, releasing the state allocation “earlier seized for just no reason”.
According to him,”I don’t want to join issues with anybody on the allocation, it is a statutory allocation for all states, I can confirm to you here that by Tuesday next week, I will get the bank alert for the money, an official communication on the release was passed to me just yesterday (Thursday)”.
In his own reaction on the Court of Appeal judgement,  Chairman, Board of Trustee of the party, Senator Walid Jibrin, said the party “is undergoing various consultations with various organs of the party and will come out with a statement on the judgement by Tuesday next week.
“This judgment is not a threat but rather it is going to put us together. I appeal strongly to every member of PDP to remain calm, not to panic, not to move to any other party as all efforts are on to ensure that PDP remains strong 
“Those who are crying today will laugh; those who are disturbed and worried will smile,” he assured.
He assured  that the matter would be resolved by the party itself.
Two out of the three-member Appeal Court, Justice B.G. Sanga and Justice A. Gumel, in the judgment said the Port Harcourt convention was an abuse of court process.
Delivering the lead judgment, Sanga said that PDP did not follow the provisions of Article 47(3) of its Constitution in the removal of the Sherrif-led National Working Committee.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, also enjoined PDP members not to be anxious over the ruling.
This is contained in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr Uche Anichukwu, on Friday in Abuja.
He said there was no cause for alarm, as the party leadership would meet soon to take a decision on the best way forward.
“I enjoin party faithful to remain steadfast as we will surely emerge stronger from the present challenges.
“Those dreaming about the death of the opposition in Nigeria will have to sleep much longer and still wake up to meet us much stronger.
“This is because a vibrant opposition is the beauty of democracy,’’ he said.
The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt on Friday upheld Sheriff as the authentic National Chairman of the PDP.
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt in 2016 declared Makarfi as the chairman of the party, while another court of coordinate jurisdiction in Abuja, headed by Justice Okon Abang, ruled in favour of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff.
Following the leadership tussle, Makarfi and Sheriff have been working from offices other than the national headquarters of the party at Wadata Plaza in Abuja, due to its closure by security agencies.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff- led faction has described the ruling in its favour as the confirmation of the will of the people.
Dr Cairo Ojougboh, the Deputy National Chairman to Sheriff disclosed this on Friday in Abuja.
Ojougboh said the Sheriff-led National Working Committee of PDP was still ready to  dialogue with the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led group, irrespective of the judgement.
“To us, the judgement is no victory, no vanquish.
“Irrespective of the judgement, our door is open to our brothers who unfortunately are in the other group.
“We promised not to victimise anybody but work together to reunite the party, he said.
Ojougboh added that following the judgement, Sheriff was ready to organise a credible National Convention of the party as soon as possible.
“The will of the masses is that the party should be handed over to the people and that is what the Sheriff has come to do and he will never be distracted in achieving that
“The PDP Chairman, Sheriff has directed me to assure our party members that the PDP National Working Committee would as soon as possible organise a national convention that would lead to the election of credible leaders of the party.’’
He, however, added that should Makarfi led group appeal the judgement, Sheriff-led NWC would also be ready to meet them in the Supreme Court.
“All of us had earlier pledged to accept whatever is the outcome of the court judgment and I hope the Makarfi led group will still respect that.
“Should they say they will proceed to the Supreme Court to appeal the judgement, we are also ready to meet at the Apex Court, but I expect them to respect their promise.’’
Ojougboh, who commended the party members and supporters for keeping faith in Sheriff, urged them to keep supporting him and his effort to return the party to the grassroots.