The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Thursday, May 4, commenced hearing on the leadership tussle in Nigeria’s major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The hearing of the matter by the Apex court comes on the heel of an appeal filed by Ali Modu Sheriff, whom a federal high court sitting in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state had declared as the authentic chairman of the party, against a suit filed by the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction, challenging the decision of the lower court.
Recall that the PDP has been embroiled in leadership battle since 2015, however in February 2017, the matter was believed to have been resolved after a federal high court sitting in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state, endorsed the leadership of Mr. Sheriff. The court ruling was rejected by Makarfi and some members of the PDP as they have refused to recognise Sheriff as the National chairman of the party.
Displeased with the ruling, the Markafi-led faction filed an appeal at the apex court, seeking an overturning of the unfavourable judgment. Recall also that in a bid to calm the tension in the opposition party, the immediate past President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had intervened to find a political solution to the leadership tussle in the PDP but his peace attempt fell through.
Meanwhile, the apex court is expected to give a final verdict on the leadership tussle in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today (May 4), a ruling which will draw the curtain on the leadership tussle in the opposition party which has entered its third year.
Aledeh
