Again, police seal PDP secretariat as court restrains Sheriff

For the second time in two weeks, security agents have sealed the National Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja.

It was learnt that security agents acted to prevent a repeat of Thursday’s violent confrontation between supporters of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee and those backing the ousted National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

Armed policemen and their counterparts from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps prevented entry into the locked premises even as journalists were told to stay off the premises till Monday.

This is coming at a time a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, insisted that its earlier order restraining Sheriff and his team from parading themselves as the party’s leaders subsists.

The court also slated July 4, 2016 for judgement.

A statement signed by Chinwe Nnorom for the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustee, Senator Walid Jibrin, said the court also recognised the Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee.

The statement partly read, “The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, June 16, 2016 heard the case between the Peoples Democratic Party and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff & co. on Suit N0: FHC/PH/CS/524/2016 restraining Sheriff and his co-defendants from parading themselves as national officers of the party and to recognise the National Caretaker Committee as constituted by the national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

“The court, after hearing the matter before it, declared that the ex-parte order restraining Sheriff and his co. defendants from parading themselves as National Chairman, National Secretary, National Auditor and other former national officers of the party which also recognises the National Caretaker Committee subsists. The court adjourned the case till Monday, July 4, 2016 for judgement.”

In a related development, the party has instituted contempt proceedings against Sheriff and his co defendants at a Federal High Court.

The party said it sued Sheriff and co for misinforming party members, supporters and the general public that the ex-parte order suit N0: FHC/PH/CS/524/2016 dated May 23, 2016 expired after 14 days, while he was aware that the order  subsisted pending its final determination.