The Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party has applauded the verdict of the Supreme Court which reinstated Makarfi as the national chairman of the party on Wednesday.
The party said the judgement had shown the supremacy of the rule of law and that the judiciary was the last hope of the common man.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with our correspondent where he gave the position of the party, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said it had been proved that a set of people could not hold the party to ransom for whatever reason.
Describing the verdict as victory for the PDP, he said with the “distractions” over, the party would be able to focus on its role as an opposition party.
He said the party would now be able to provide the kind of robust opposition that was required of the it by Nigerians.
According to him, it would also give the party the opportunity of saving the country from the “mis-governance” of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The publicity secretary of the party also said the Makarfi leadership would reconcile with all the aggrieved members willing to be reconciled with.
He stated that it was time for the party to move ahead and offer Nigerians the best it could to promote democracy and good governance.
His words: “We applaud the judiciary for doing the right things. We thank the court for ensuring justice and helping the nation’s democracy.
“From all indications, it has shown that a group of people cannot hold the party to ransom. We are happy in PDP.
“With distractions over, our party can now focus on what Nigerians want us to do – provide robust opposition and save the nation from the mis-governance of the APC.
“We’ll reconcile with those that want to be reconciled with and those who have made up their mind not to retrace their steps would be left alone. “
Recall that the Supreme Court on Wednesday declared Senator Ahmed Makarfi the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The ruling therefore removed Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the chairman as earlier declared by the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal.
In its ruling, a five-man panel of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, reinstated Ahmed Makarfi as the chairman of the party.
Reading the lead judgment of the Supreme Court, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, said that contrary to the majority judgment of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal, the suit filed by Makarfi faction before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt was not an abuse of court.
The court also ruled that the national convention of the PDP held on May 21, 2016, had rightly removed Sheriff.
The judgment of the apex court was unanimously agreed to the lead judgment by Justice Rhodes-Vivour.
Also on the panel are Justices Onnoghen, Tanko Muhammad, Kayode Ariwoola and Dattijo Muhammad.
