A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, February 22, declined to grant an order to stop the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from proceeding with its scheduled primary election to nominate a candidate for the forthcoming governorship poll in Edo state.
In rulings on two ex-parte applications, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the applicants to serve the PDP with a notice to appear in court on the next date to show cause why the applicants’ request should not have been granted.
Adizetu Hadizat filed the first, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024.
Audrey Abosede Adunni Umoru, while Moses Adomokha Alabi and Christopher Ebode Oboarere jointly filed the second, marked FHC /ABJ /CS/196/2024.
Listed as respondents in both suits are – the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, PDP, Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, Setonji Koshoedo, the National Working Committee, NWC, and National Executive Committee, NEC, of the PDP.
In their applications dated and filed February 19, the applicants want an interim order restraining the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held on February 4, to conduct the PDP’s primary in Edo State, slated for February 22 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.
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While moving both applications, Magaji Ibrahim, SAN, stated that if the primary election were held, it would be null and void because the process for selecting delegates was flawed.
Ibrahim claimed that the PDP violated a court decision issued on January 9, this year, when the PDP’s Acting National Secretary announced information about the ward congresses.
He recalled that the court declared Senator Samuel Anyannwu as the PDP’s substantive National Secretary on January 9, and that rather than complying with the judgment, the party went ahead and appointed an Acting National Secretary in flagrant disregard of the court.
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