The Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, threatened to sue the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) if the electoral body fails to recognise Jimoh Ibrahim as the flag bearer of the PDP for the November 26, 2016 Ondo governorship election.

“INEC is an umpire and a creation of the law and must obey court judgement. The law has pronounced Jimoh as the candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming Ondo State election and INEC has no choice than to abide by the order,” said Prof Wale Oladipo, a former PDP National Secretary.

“In the forthcoming election, we are urging INEC to be completely neutral; We will do anything within the ambit of the law not only to defend our party but our candidate Jimoh Ibrahim.”

He stated that if there was any reason INEC should not obey the order of the court as it related to Jimoh Ibrahim in the Ondo state governorship contest, it should explain so to the judge adding that it was even easier for INEC to do so as it was a defendant in the suit.

“INEC ought to do the needful. If it fails, the court would invoke Form 48 and 49 to punish the relevant officer and he would have himself to blame.”

When asked whether the crisis in the party would not jeopardise the chances of the PDP, Oladipo maintained that both the Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff factions were committed to the ongoing reconciliation but maintained that the party will not sacrifice the rule of law on the altar of reconciliation.

“It is better for any PDP candidate to emerge as a winner in the Ondo State governorship election that to lose it to any other party. But we are not going to sacrifice the rule of law on the altar of reconciliation.” (The Guardian)

•Photo shows Modu Sheriff.

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