The Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi capital on Monday, nullified the recent ward, council and state congresses of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the second defendant in the suit from recognising any of the officers purportedly elected from the nullified congresses.
The judgement was as a result of a suit filed by Nnenna Lynda Udeh and 12 others versus PDP in 2024. The applicant prayed the court to set aside the Congresses for being unconstitutional.
Recall that some stakeholders of the party had on Nov. 2 conducted a congress and elected Mr Peter Nwele, as the new Chairman of the party in the state.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Hilary Oshomah, in his ruling, said the Congresses did not follow democratic procedures of the party.
Oshomah noted that the congresses was void, unconstitutional and of no effect. Oshomah, therefore, ordered that the executives elected during the congress should cease parading themselves as members of the State Executive Working Committee.
“The congress of the PDP in the state is nullified, unconstitutional and of no effect whatsoever,” the Judge stated.
Mr Mudi Erhenede, the lead counsel for the Plaintiffs commended the judgement.
Our clients went to the court because they were not allowed to have access to the nomination forms.
He said while the case was still pending, PDP went ahead and conducted the congress.
“So, the court has ruled in our favour. The congress did not follow the democratic processes of the party. It is a law that all parties should be allowed to have access to the form,” he explained.
Peoplesmind
