On Wednesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a ruling on the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) upcoming presidential primary poll.
InsightnaijaTV reports that a court case had been filed challenging the party’s primaries, which were set to take place on May 28.
Ndukwe Chukwudi, a PDP presidential candidate, petitioned Justice Donatus Okorowo on April 28 to consider stopping the party’s presidential primary due to alleged noncompliance.
In his lawsuit, Okorowo alleged that the PDP had broken its zoning agreement by refusing to run a candidate from the South-East.
InsightnaijaTV understands that Justice Okorowo had previously set May 18 as the deadline for parties to file their written addresses, after which the case will be decided.
M. Aliyu (SAN), counsel for the PDP chairman, told the court on Wednesday, May 25, that he had filed an application with the Court of Appeal.
As a result, he requested that the case be adjourned because his application to the Court of Appeal would be heard on May 26.
Other defendants in the case, such as PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu and another interested party, agreed with Aliyu’s arguments.
Meanwhile, Chukwudi’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), argued that the court should deny the second defendant’s application, but that an application for a stay of proceeding or delay was within the judge’s discretion.
However, because an appeal had been filed, Justice Okorowo ruled that he would have to adjourn the proceedings.
He also stated that the matter needed to be adjourned because one of the parties asking to be joined in the case had not been heard.
“I have seen the processes filed by the second defendant regarding the appeal, and parties have acknowledged receipt of the notice of hearing,” the judge added.
“In this case, a motion for joinder has been filed, which the court cannot dismiss.”
“Given the motion for stay at the Court of Appeal, I hereby order an adjournment.” The matter has been delayed until June 1 to allow for the continuation of the hearing.”
