Im Still Chairman, NEC Meeting, Decision IllegalSheriff

Sheriff yesterday described as illegal and void, the NEC meeting of the party convened in Port Harcourt.He also declared that the extension of the tenure of the Makarfi-led caretaker committee of the party by the national convention of the party was illegal.In a statement by his media aide, Inuwa Bwala, Sheriff, while reacting to the NEC meeting which held at the instance of Makarfis leadership of the party, said the meeting breached section 31, sub section 4 of the PDP constitution.He said the section provides that only the national chairman can convene a NEC meeting after giving two weeks notice to INEC.Even in an emergency situation, one week notice must be given to the national chairman, who has the sole responsibility to convene the NEC.It is sad, Sheriff said, that in the face of obvious disregard to court orders, which halted the convention, some individuals are bent on perpetrating impunity by taking steps to install another contraption on the PDP.Sheriff stated that the rule of law and constitutionality must prevail in all circumstances; as such, whatever decisions are arrived at, they are not binding and cannot stand in law.Meanwhile, the Rivers State commissioner of police, Mr Francis Mobolaji Odesanya, has said the police sealed off the venue of the national convention of the PDP, in compliance with an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja.Security forces, comprising mostly men of the Nigeria Police, took over all routes to the stadium as early as 5:30am, forcing commuters to walk long distances to get to their various destinations.Also, media houses that had already stationed their equipment at the venue, in preparation for the convention, were ordered to remove the equipment immediately, after the police commissioner visited the stadium.Addressing newsmen in his office shortly after he left the stadium, Odesanya said, Our actions are line with a court order. The time we moved in is not relevant. The police have been there and we are always everywhere. We are always providing security everywhere and it is our primary assignment to make sure everywhere in the state is well secured.While noting that he could not speak for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other government agencies on the matter, he clarified that the police did not seal off the venue but were providing security.When LEADERSHIP visited the venue of the convention, it was observed that all roads leading to the stadium, including Moscow Road, Hospital Road, Degema Street, Bernard Carr Street, Pots Johnson Street and several others had been taken over by security agents.Odesanya also denied claims by Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, that he was prevented from moving out of his lodge to attend the convention.He wondered how only Fayose would be prevented from leaving his lodge when other governors were not prevented.That cant happen and that is not to my knowledge. Then, how did other Excellencies move out from their lodge, he said.Addressing a post-convention press conference at Government House, spokesman of the national caretaker committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye said members of the PDP will never submit to any evil force.He said, The PDP remains highly united. We can never be intimidated; we can never be harassed and we will not submit to any evil forces.
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