South-South PDP : Court Refuses To Grant Wike’s Group Requests
A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to grant the motion ex-parte brought by South-South zonal leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The suit brought by Alabh George Turnah (for himself as Zonal Secretary, South South zone of the PDP and members of the South South zonal working committee of the party) want the court to restrain PDP Acting National Chairman, Iliya Damagun from taking any steps that could adversely affect the outcome of the recently held zonal meeting.
Justice James Omotosho
after listening to plaintiff’s lawyer, Ibrahim Idris (SAN), Justice Omotosho refused to grant the motion ex-parte on the grounds that it was fair and just to afford the defendants the opportunity to be heard before the court could take a decision on the reliefs sought.
The judge was of the view that the matter, facts and allegations made by the plaintiff are so weighty that granting the interim injunctions sought in the ex-parte motion, without hearing the defendants/respondents, “will cause serious damage to the working of party.”
He held that “It is just and fair to give the defendants/respondents the opportunity to be heard in respect of this injunctive application.
“This is not to say that the plaintiff does not have a legal right to protect, but because it would be better to give the defendants/respondents the opportunity to present their cases,” he said.
Listed as defendants in the suit are Damagun, the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Turnah alleged that the national PDP was planning to hold a meeting on March 11 to nullify the outcome of the South South zonal meeting of the PDP held in Benin, Edo State on February 15 and the zonal elective congress held in Calabar, Cross River State on February 22.
He stated that at the February 22 elective congress, Chief Dan Orbih was re-elected as the Vice Chairman of the PDP for South South Zone along with him and others as members of the Zonal Working Committee of the party for South South Zone.
The plaintiff is contending among others, that it is not the responsibility of the party’s national leadership to determine how zonal leadership of the party conduct congresses and hold meetings.
He stated that it was the national PDP that set the time table for zonal congresses, which formed the basis of the south south zonal congress held in Calabar on February 22.
Justice Omotosho ordered the plaintiffs to serve the defendants/respondents with the motion on notice for interlocutory injunctions and other documents so far filed through substituted means for them to react.