The Senator Ahmed Markafi-led faction of the party has won in the judgement written by a five-man panel of Justices of Nigerian Supreme Court and it was a unanimous decision.
At the opening of the hearing, Mr. Sheriff’s lawyer, Akin Olujimi, said the application was an abuse of court process because Mr. Makarfi ought to have requested the leave of court before making the application.
Sheriff had argued that the Makarfi’s faction was not recognised by the party and that he (Sheriff) as the legitimate chairman did not authorise anyone to file an appeal on behalf of the party. Mr. Olujimi prayed the court to dismiss the application. Responding, Mr. Makarfi’s lawyer, Wole Olanikpekun, prayed the court to disregard the argument of Mr. Olujimi, describing them as baseless.
Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour who read the lead verdict validate the National Convention PDP held in Port Harcourt on May 21, 2016, where the Sheriff led National Executive Committee, NEC, was dissolved. He said the convention was not conducted in disobedience to any court order.
The apex court accused Sheriff of engaging in forum shopping, saying he “displayed infantile desperation to cling to office at all cost”.
Consequently, it awarded a cost of N200, 000 each, against Sheriff and Prof. Wale Oladipo who acted as National Secretary of the party under him. Judgement of the apex court brought to an end a protracted leadership crisis that rocked the former ruling party.