Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) workers have accused the National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, of selective implementation of the judgment of the Court of Appeal that reinstated him.
The staff said contrary to the court’s order for return to status quo ante, in the leadership of the party, Sheriff was working with only three members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), while he has replaced others with handpicked officials.
Speaking through the National Director of Administration, Gurama Bawa, at a press briefing in Abuja, the staff, who were reacting to calls by the PDP chairman that they should resume work at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, said they would return to work when peace returns to the party.
According to him, “when the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff resumed duty, we were taken aback to find out that the judgment of the court is being implemented in the breach. What we have seen is a situation where only three of the NWC members are working. The truth is that four members of the National Working Committee cannot form a quorum for a valid NWC meeting to hold.
“The situation is more frightening to us, as staff, in the light of the fact that those working with the Acting National Chairman are those handpicked through processes that are alien to the PDP constitution. For example, Dr. Cairo Ojugboh, presently officiates as Deputy National Chairman when he was a candidate in the May 14, 2016 PDP zonal congress, where he contested for the office of the National Vice Chairman, South South but lost to Hon. Emma Ogidi.”
On the Appeal Court’s judgment, Bawa said: “Following the judgment validating the National Convention by FHC in Port Harcourt, members of staff were requested to resume duty in May/June, 2016. They did so. In the few days we reported for work, we were harassed and intimidated by demonstrators and protesters. We were violently chased out of the offices; many had to run away, leaving their personal belongings, which we understand have now been vandalised by unknown persons.”
(The Sun)
