The Explainer: How the PDP convention in Port-Harcourt eventually collapsed – and why

Since a remarkable reversal in the 2015 elections, the PDP are so far proving ill-suited to being in the opposition. In the aftermath of that defeat, Adamu Mu’azu, the former governor of Bauchi who became chairman in 2014, resigned in May 2015.

The ensuing vacuum was eventually filled by Ali Modu-Sheriff in February 2016, in a move that was initially hailed by PDP acolytes, but things turned sour when it became clear that the political calculations for the 2019 elections were already in progress.

The PDP governors, led by Nyesom Wike and Ayo Fayose, clearly want to move the party in a different direction to Modu Sheriff, and held a convention in Port-Harcourt on May 21st, setting up a caretaker committee led by Ahmed Makarfi. Before that, the National Executive Council and National Working Committee of the party, led by Ali Modu-Sheriff was dissolved.

However, that convention took place in spite of two rulings by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Lagos High Court saying that the May 21st convention should not hold. Those suits were filed by Modu Sheriff, the National Secretary, Prof. Olawale Oladipo and the National Auditor, Alhaji Fatai Adewale Adeyanju.

There was further confusion on May 24th, when Justice Liman of the Federal High Court gave ex-parte judicial approval to the Port-Harcourt convention, and recognising the decisions taken, namely the dissolution of the NEC and NWC led by Modu-Sheriff. This happened on the same day Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Lagos division declared the Makarfi caretaker committee illegal, consistent with his earlier rulings.

However, the ex-parte injunction granted by Justice Liman lapsed on June 9th, and on June 13th, the Sheriff faction took over the PDP Secretariat in Abuja.

There was further drama to come. On June 29th, Justice Valentine Ashi of the Abuja High Court held that the process that produced Modu Sheriff was null and void. His ruling faulted the amended PDP Constitution in 2014, saying that the amendment was a violation of the Electoral Act.

On July 28th, Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja High Court again affirmed the chairmanship of Modu Sheriff, while calling the Makarfi faction ‘apostles of impunity’ for violating the two court orders prior to that May convention.

On Monday August 15th, the Justice Okon Abang gave another interim order preventing the convention in Port-Harcourt from taking place, so that Sheriff’s suit could be determined. This was after the Makarfi faction of the PDP secured another ex-parte injunction from Justice Ibrahim Watila of the Port-Harcourt Federal High Court, on August 9th, for the convention to go ahead.

When two courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction give conflicting rulings on the same matter, it is the most recent ruling that takes effect. Justice Abang’s ruling was the most recent, and that was why the police came to cordon off the Sharks stadium in the early hours of August 17th, to prevent the PDP convention from being held by the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the party.

The law does not recognise the Makarfi faction, and the security agencies acted accordingly. The PDP has now done the proper thing by extending the Makarfi caretaker committee’s tenure by one year, while working to resolve the pending lawsuits.

In the meantime, the PDP has governorship elections to prosecute in Edo and Ondo, and it will be interesting to see if they can put up a united front. Right now, they are a party in disarray.

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