Following last Friday’s decision of the Court of Appeal which confirmed Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ADEBIYI ADEDAPO explores options before the Makarfi-led faction.
The last may not have been heard about the leadership crisis rocking the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), after the Port Harcourt division of the Court of Appeal judgment confirmed factional leader, Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic chairman of the party.
The decision if the court again elicited reactions from other faction and organs of the party.
PDP Governors’ Forum in its reaction to the judgment said it as a rape on the Nation’s democracy. Ekiti state Governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose, who chairs the forum said that the Party would approach Supreme Court to challenge the judgment.
Fayose who described the Judgment as an action against the will of the people said if the people truly symbolize what a party is, then the machinations of detractors and the anti-democratic organs will not prevail at last.
“We commend the minority judgment of the lower court and we believe the truth will prevail. Thank God we have another opportunity to seek justice at the Supreme Court, which I believe will not be delayed or denied. The party will appeal the judgement as we believe in the ability of the judiciary to do justice, however we plead with our members, leaders and supporters to calm down as we keep hope alive if this is a price to pay, to keep our democracy alive and opposition strengthened, we are prepared to go the whole hug,” he said.
This position however negates the various reconciliation efforts initiated by the party members, as further litigation would only prolong life of the party’s crisis, as there can be no genuine reconciliation within the party until the leadership crisis is laid to rest.
Prior to the Court of Appeal judgment last Thursday, the Professor Jerry Gana-led Strategy Review and Inter Party Committee held separate meetings with former President Goodluck Jonathan and the former National Chairman of the Dr. Bamanga Tukur to Chart a new course for the party.
Although, these meetings were held behind closed doors, first at the Maitama residence of former President Jonathan and later with Bamanga Tukur.
Jonathan at the meeting warned that the party must get its acts together if it must maintain its position back as a ruling party.
“Losing the presidency is something temporary; we should be able to get that position back as long as we are able to get our acts together. I am happy that you people are working towards that,” he said.
The former president who acknowledged lack of internal democracy was a major factor which led to PDP’s misfortune in the past elections, said direct primary, especially under presidential system of government, was the ultimate and best way of selecting candidates for elections.
According to him, the best way to stop imposition is to make sure that people don’t control the delegates; at least 70 percent of the delegates should not be under the control of anybody, prominent people in the party should be automatic delegates
“These are people that are known by everybody and nobody can go and manipulate them or their names. By the time we have a reasonable number of statutory delegates who are more than 75 per cent of total delegates that will vote, then, it will be difficult for somebody to go and manipulate the list. This is the only way to strengthen political parties. It is a clear sign that PDP will win in 2019,” he said.
Jonathan’s position suggested that only politics of inclusiveness and internal democracy could make PDP a strong party again. However, some elements in the party who always want negotiate from the point of strength will speak discordant tonnes when it pleases them.
Chairman, of the party’s Board of Trustee (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin in better reaction to the judgement noted that the party is undergoing various consultations with various organs of the party and will come out with a statement on the judgement this week.
According to him, the judgment is not a threat but rather it is going to put the party together.
“I appeal strongly to every member of PDP to remain calm, not to panic, not to move to any other party as all efforts are on to ensure that PDP remains strong. Those who are crying today will laugh; those who are disturbed and worried will smile,” he said.
Walids comments, if sincerely pursued raises a high hope of reconciliation the party, as it doesn’t expose bias for or against any faction as he had done in the past.
Interestingly, the Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction was wise to describe the Court of Appeal judgment in its favour as victory for the entire party, without a victor of vanquishes.
Sheriff who had pledged to accept the outcome of the court judgment, even if it was against his faction urged the Makarfi-led group to the judgment , and chart a way forward for the party.
The Deputy National Chairman to Mr. Sheriff, Mr. Cairo Ojougboh on said the Sheriff-led National Working Committee of PDP was still ready to dialogue with the Ahmed Makarfi-led group irrespective of the judgement.
“Irrespective of the judgement our door is open to our brothers who unfortunately are in the other group. We promised not to victimise anybody,” Ojuogboh said.
Sheriff also corroborates Ojuogbohs’s declaration when he expressed readiness to the relinquish his position as National Chairman for peace to reign in the party.
The Borno state born politician dismissed the rejection of his court-ordered reinstatement by some key stakeholders of the party, stressing that he has commenced broad consultations aimed at restoring peace and unity in the PDP.
This however doesn’t suggest that Sheriff and his faction are war weary to face the last leg of the legal battle in the Supreme Court as, Ojuogboh had declared that their lawyers are battle ready.
“Should they say they will proceed to the Supreme court to appeal the judgment, we are also ready to meet at the Apex Court, but I expect them to respect their promise,’’ he said.
To this end, a meeting summoned by the Ahmed Makarfi faction is expected to consider the best options for the party as the nation gears towards its next general election in 2019.
Members loyal to the Ahmed Makarfi’s faction including majority of the PDP governors, members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), BOT members, ex-Ministers, party members in the National Assembly especially principal officers, and chairmen of the state chapters of PDP are expected to dominate the meeting.
Although number of options might have been listed for consideration at the meeting, including filing an appeal against the Court of Appeal’s ruling which, allow the status quo to remain with Sheriff in charge of the party till August, negotiate with Sheriff’s faction to find amicable political solutions to the crisis, mass defection from the party to join a another party or form a new party as widely speculated .
However, for party in search of reconciliation, continued legal battle is more likely to mean more division to the party, more so that there is no guarantee that the Supreme Court will favor the Makarfi-faction. It may be best for warring parties to jettison the ego trip and work together to achieve a robust opposition to the current government.