Court adjourns Makarfi/Sheriff PDP suit indefinitely

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Court adjourns Makarfi/Sheriff PDP suit indefinitely

The hope of finding a lasting solution to the leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party suffered a major setback in Abuja on Thursday as the Court of Appeal adjourned sine die (indefinitely), hearing on the matter.

A three-man panel of Justices of the court led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa said it suspended hearing in the matter to await the outcome of a related case pending before the Port Harcourt Division of the court.

The decision followed a motion that was filed by the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party.

The group had through its counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi, (SAN), urged the appellate court to temporarily suspend action on the suit filed by the Senator Ahmed Markafi-led faction of the party.

It based its request on the fact that the court in Port Harcourt had already heard the matter before it and reserved judgment.

The three pending appeals that were put on hold by the Justice Saulawa-led panel on Thursday were marked CA/A/402/2016; CA/A/402A/2016 and CA/A/402D/M/2016.

The appellants are basically challenging a verdict that Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on June 30, which recognised Sheriff as the national chairman of the party.

Justice Abang had in the said judgment, maintained that Sheriff had the authority to take decisions for the party, including briefing of lawyers to represent the interest of the PDP in court.

Meanwhile, Makarfi has accused Sheriff of not being sincere on how to end the crisis in the party.

The former governor of Kaduna State said Sheriff was merely playing to the gallery when he said he was ready for another round of discussion in order to end the crisis in the former ruling party.

Sheriff had on Wednesday, accused Makarfi and his group of frustrating attempts aimed at resolving the crisis.

He said because of this, the two parties would now wait on the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court to determine the true leaders of the party.