Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
A Federal High Court sitting in Zamfara State has turned down the request by an agent of the opposition party’s (Peoples Democratic Party) governors forum to hold the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
The court refused the request for an exparte order in a suit filled by Imam Auwal, a member of the PDP from Bakura Ward, in Bukura Local Government Area of Zamfara State with the opposition party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first and second defendants respectively.
The court also declined a request to restrain INEC from receiving any correspondence from the PDP unless a substantive chairman is appointed, pending the determination of the motion on notice.It also declined a request seeking to restrain the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) from recognizing embattled national vice chairman (South East) , Ali Odefa, pending the determination of the motion on notice.
Tension has been rising in the PDP over tussle on whether or not the party should appoint a substantive national chairman from the North Central, where the immediate past chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, comes from.
The opposition party at its last NEC meeting on April 18 had deferred the appointment of a substantive chairman to August 28. However, the National Working Committee (NWC) under the leadership of the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, rescheduled the meeting for October 24.
However, ahead of the NEC meeting, a Federal High Court in Abuja, in judgment on October 11, barred the party organ from replacing Damagum as acting chairman until December 2025.
The judgment had deepen the schism in the opposition party and heighten anxiety as to whether or not the NEC meeting will hold as scheduled.
The Zamfara Court was asked for
“an order of Interlocutory Injunction restraining the 1” Defendant, its officers, agents, privies and/or any person or persons claiming through or under it from postponing its National Executive Committee Meeting already scheduled to hold on Thursday 24th October, 2024 at its National Secretariat, Abuja pending the final hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
Also, the Court was asked for “an order of Interlocutory Injunction restraining the Defendants jointly and severally, their servants, agents, privies and/or any person or persons claiming through or under them from recognizing any other National Executive Committee Meeting held on any other dates except the one scheduled for Thursday 24th October, 2024 as the 99th NEC Meeting of the 1” Defendant/Respondent pending the final hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
The court was also asked for “an order of Interlocutory Injunction restraining the National Working Committee and all other Organs of the 1” Defendant from recognizing the suspended National Vice Chairman (South East Zone), Mr. Ali Odefa as a member or National Officer of the 1” Defendant pending the final hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
The other relief sought was “an order of Interlocutory Injunction restraining the 2nd Defendant not to receive any correspondence or communication of whatever nature from the 1st Defendant, unless a substantive National Chairman is appointed in accordance with Section 47 (6) of the Peoples Democratic Party Constitution, 2017 (As amended)., pending the final hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
In its ruling, the Court presided by Justice Dalam Olasupi Ibrahim ordered: “That prayers 1, 2 and 3 of the motion exparte are declined. That prayer 4 of the motion exparte is granted. That an order is made abridging time in this proceeding. That the parties are to be put on notice. That the matter is adjourned to Friday, 25th October 2024.”
In the originating summon, Auwal wants the Court to determine if the PDP NEC is in breach of Section 47(6) of the party’s 2017 Constitution by failing to appoint a substantive national chairman from the North Central.