The Federal High Court in Enugu has adjourned till Thursday a suit seeking interlocutory injunction to restrain INEC and the PDP from dissolving the party’s executive in Enugu State.
Adjourning the case in Enugu on Monday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed said this would enable the court to commence hearing of the motion on notice for the injunction.
The embattled Chairman of the PDP in the state, Vita Abba, and 28 others, comprising the state executive committee of the party, last Friday filed the suit.
The National Working Committee of the PDP on Saturday dissolved the state executive council on the ground that the congress that elected it was not constituted in line with the party’s constitution.
Counsel to the plaintiffs/applicants, Justina Offiah in a 24-paragraph affidavit, prayed the court to restrain INEC from refusing or failing to deal with the members of the state executive of the party, pending the determination of the motion on notice.
Offiah also prayed the court to restrain the NWC and any other organ or officer from ceasing to recognise the plaintiffs as executives of the party and/or from holding a fresh state congress pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The counsel submitted that the current party executive, under the leadership of Abba, was duly elected in a state congress held on Feb. 28, 2008 at the Presidential Hotel, Enugu.
She said the then Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in the state, Abdu Bulama, monitored and attended the state congress at which the plaintiffs were elected.
Offiah also submitted that the current National Chairman of the party, Okwesilieze Nwodo, on his rejoining the party, applied to the state chairman for a waiver to enable him to hold elective or appointive party office.
The PDP state chapter granted the waiver to Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo after notifying the zonal leadership of the party under the leadership of Olisa Metu.
The actions of the defendants are calculated to emasculate the plaintiffs as the members of the state executive committee of the party in Enugu State and thereby deny them their right to organise and participate in the congresses for the election of the party’s candidates for various elective offices under the constitution, she said.
The counsel tendered 11 exhibits, including letters and correspondences, to back up her claims.
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