A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to go ahead with its national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, next month.
Justice James Omotosho gave the order, Friday, while ruling in a suit filed to determine whether the party could proceed with its planned national convention slated for November 15 and 16.
The case was filed by three PDP officials: Austine Nwachukwu, Imo State chairman; Amah Abraham Nnanna, Abia State chairman; and Turnah George, the party’s South-South secretary.
Listed as defendants in the suit were the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The plaintiffs asked the court to stop the event, arguing that the party failed to comply with its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act in the build-up to the convention.
Their lawyer told the court that “no congress was conducted in 14 states,” insisting that the issue before the court is whether the defendants violated the law and that it cannot be dismissed as an internal party matter.
More details later…
