What Ali Modu Sheriff Does Not Understand – Filani

A former national vice chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ishola Filani has described the move by the factional national chairman of the People Democratic Party as one fueled by ignorance.

Filani, while submitting his opinion with respect to the judgement of Justice Mo­hammed Liman of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt said: “Anyone who is familiar with the po­litical set up of the PDP will know that the con­vention is the highest au­thority.”

Recall that the Judge of the Federal High Court had on Monday ruled against the leadership constituted by the Ali Modu Sheriff faction while upholding the caretaker committee headed by Ahmed Makafi.

Filani further stating his position on the judgement and the subsequent conduct of Sheriff maintained that whatever decision was taken by the convention remains final.

He said: “Even where such deci­sion is not in the consti­tution or not supported by the constitution, it serves as an amendment.

“So, setting up a care­taker or any committee at all, the constitution also gives the convention power to do anything in the interest of the party. So, setting up a caretaker committee at this point will give all the factions of the party opportunity, within three months, to come together.”

While pointing out that hope remains still for Sheriff, Filani noted that after three months, Sheriff and his faction members still hold the right to contest for whatever position had been zoned to their area.

“They can contest any election. As you can see, those who were in Abuja, who said they were hold­ing convention, were brought in almost within a week of the Port Har­court convention.

“Sheriff and his caucus were all invited, but, they said they were relying on court judgment.

“On what was that pre­vious judgment they were relying on? On nothing because none of them was elected”.