A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has granted reliefs sought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the controversies trailing the changes effected in the party’s leadership.

According to Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Federal High Court 1, the national convention held on May 21, 2016 in the state capital was legal and did not go contrary to any law.

The trial judge also held that the dissolution of the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee and the constitution of a caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the party by that convention was valid.

The court stated that in pursuant of the constitution of the party, the former acting national chairman of the party, Ali-Modu Sheriff had no powers to unilaterally postpone the convention on a day all delegates had converged on Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile, the embattled chairman of the PDP has headed to the Appeal Court.

Mr Sheriff told journalists in Abuja shortly after the court ruling that he remained the chairman of the party until the Court of Appeal set aside an earlier ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja which was in his favour.

According to him, the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt is of equal ranking with that in Abuja and therefore cannot make him vacate office until a higher court rules otherwise.

Meanwhile, a statement signed by Ahmed Makarfi after the court ruling in Port Harcourt has appealed to the embattled chairman to sheath his sword and join hands to build the party. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows PDP Caretaker Chairman Ahmed Makarfi.