An Abia State High Court in Bende has issued an order restraining the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its scheduled congresses to elect new officers at the state, local government, and ward levels.
The congress was set to begin on July 27, 2024, with the election of ward executives from 184 wards across the state.
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The ruling came from a suit filed by Francis Etuzu, Chidindu Kalu Kalu, and Enyinnaya Ogbu (Claimants/Applicants) against the PDP, its national chairman, national financial secretary, national organizing secretary, and national legal adviser (defendants).
The court barred the PDP from proceeding with or rescheduling the congresses until the motion on notice is heard and determined.
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Justice C.U. Okoroafor, presiding over the case, also restrained the PDP from extending the already expired tenure of the previous state, local government, and ward executive officers pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The court’s order allowed the claimants to serve the originating summons and other legal documents to the defendants in Abuja, outside Abia State, either directly or by posting them at the PDP headquarters in Wadata Plaza, FCT, Abuja.
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The order explicitly stated, “The defendants are hereby restrained from holding or rescheduling the PDP party congress in Abia State on 27-07-2024 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed.
They are also restrained from extending the expired tenure of the last state, local government, and ward executive officers of the PDP in Abia State until the motion on notice is resolved.”
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The court has adjourned the matter to July 30, 2024, for a report on service.
In response, the PDP, through its Acting State Publicity Secretary, Elder Amah Abraham, claimed that the restraining order was obtained by individuals who had resigned from the party before the 2023 general elections.
Abraham announced that the party’s legal department is taking steps to challenge what he described as an “unjust restraining order.”
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Abraham warned that the PDP is prepared to confront those attempting to undermine the party.
“It is time to expose the common enemies of our party, and we will not back down from this fight,” he declared.
The PDP is resolute in its decision to address the legal challenges and ensure the continuity of its party activities in Abia State.
