Embattled Ali Modu Sheriff seems to have cemented his stand as the National Chairman of the troubled opposition party, PDP, giveen a new order of a court to recognise gubernatorial candidates produced by his faction.
Ali Modu Sheriff
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been ordered to by a court ruling presided over by Justice Okon Abang to give recognition to the candidates from the Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Working Committee (NWC), for the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo.
This invariably invalidates any the primary elections organized by the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The new twist developed at a Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday, 30th of June, 2016.
Justice Okon Abang, granted an order of interlocutory injunction restraining INEC, the PDP and their agents from dealing with or according any facility required by law (regarding the governorship elections to be conducted by INEC in Edo and Ondo states) to any other persons or group other than the Senator Sheriff, Prof Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju-led NWC of the party
The judge directed INEC and the PDP and their agents to “recognise, deal with and accord all facilities required by law“ (regarding the elections in Edo and Ondo states) to the Ali Modu Sheriff, Prof Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju led NWC according to The Nation.
Justice Abang further directed INEC and the PDP to “reject and ignore any activity (including primary elections/congresses for the nomination of candidates of the PDP for the elections in Edo and Ondo states, purportedly conducted on behalf of the 2nd defendant (PDP) by any other persons or group of persons other than the Senator Sheriff, Prof Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju-led NWC.”
The judge said the interlocutory orders were to subsist pending the determination of the substantive suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/439/2016 filed by two governorship aspirants of the PDP in Edo and Ondo states – Chief Benson Akingboye (Ondo) and Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma (Edo).
Justice Abang’s ruling was on a motion on notice for interlocutory orders pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit with INEC as 1st defendant and PDP as 2nd defendant.