By Abiola Olawale
The political landscape of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), remains suspended in uncertainty as the Federal High Court in Abuja has set October 31 as the date for judgment in the contentious suit challenging the party’s planned national convention.
The high-stakes ruling, which follows the conclusion of legal arguments by all involved parties, will determine the fate of the proposed convention and the current leadership structure of the PDP.
The suit, which has been a source of significant internal conflict and legal wrangling within the party, seeks an injunction to halt the upcoming national event. The PDP convention is crucial for electing new national officers and resolving long-standing power struggles.
Meanwhile, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 31 for judgment in the suit.
Justice Omotosho fixed the date after taking arguments for and against the suit filed by three aggrieved members of the party.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, the judge reaffirmed his earlier order directing all parties to maintain the status quo regarding the planned convention, warning that the order must not be flouted.
He cautioned that he would not hesitate to nullify any step taken by any of the parties while the matter remains pending before the court.
During the hearing, Joseph Daudu (SAN), counsel to the three plaintiffs, in his lead debate prayed to the court not to treat their grievances as mere internal affairs of the party but as an effort to ensure adherence to the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the PDP Constitution.
Daudu argued before the court that the Nigerian Constitution mandates the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor political party congresses before such exercises can be deemed valid.
However, the acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, represented by Paul Erokoro (SAN), urged the court to decline jurisdiction, contending that issues relating to conventions and congresses are internal matters of the party.
His position was supported by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), who represented the PDP’s NWC and NEC. Jegede argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to inquire into the internal affairs of a political party.
The New Diplomat reports that the plaintiffs in the matter are: Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
The nine defendants in the suit are: the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party; Umar Bature, National Organising Secretary; the National Working Committee (NWC); the National Executive Committee (NEC); Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum; Ali Odefa; and Emmanuel Ogidi.
