Sheriff’s issuance of Certificate of Return to Iduoriyekemwen is in contempt of court, says PDP

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately order the arrest and prosecution of the former National Chairman of the Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen for disobeying Court Judgment and charge them for Contempt.

Reacting to the purported issuance of Certificate of Return, the party in a statement dated Wednesday, July 6, 201 and signed by member of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye said the actions of Sheriff in issuing a Certificate of Return to Iduoriyekemwen after the judgment of Monday 4th of July, 2016 was utter disobedience and disrespect to court judgment and should not be treated with levity.

The PDP condemned in strong terms Sheriff’s attitude in recent times and urged security agencies to live up to their responsibilities before the former Borno governor brings the judiciary to ridicule .

“We are shocked at the attitude of the former National Chairman of our great party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who has become an authority in the country with flagrant disobedience of the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act and the PDP Constitution without being arrested or detained by security agencies. Is he above the law? “ Prince Adeyeye asked.

The party said Justice Abdullah Mohammed Liman’s judgment on the 4th of July, 2016 “is superior to all other court rulings, ex-parte orders or interlocutory injunctions procured by Sheriff and his supporters , saying that his reliance on Justice Okon Abang’s ruling of Thursday, June 30th 2016 is an attempt to confuse unsuspecting members of the public as he has done in previous times.

The party declared that the PDP has flagged-off its campaign for the gubernatorial election in Edo State; and that the law as it stands, recognizes Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the authentic and only candidate of the PDP in the September 10, 2016 election.

“Finally, the PDP charges all its members nationwide and in Edo state in particular to give maximum support to its, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to win the September 10, 2016 gubernatorial election in Edo state in order to bring the desired Change the Edo people deserve” the statement concluded.