Court Halts Kaduna PDP Congress Over Irregularities

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an exparte order restraining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting the Kaduna State congress scheduled for Saturday, September 21.

The order, obtained by five aggrieved PDP members, cites irregularities in the congress process.

Their counsel, M. A. Mahmud (SAN), filed the exparte motion.

In a letter to INEC Chairman dated September 18, Mahmud requested that the commission refrain from participating in and monitoring the state congress.

According to the letter, “We are solicitors to the Plaintiffs hereinafter refers to “our client” and on whose direct instructions we write this letter.

“Recall that the Federal High Court (Coram: Hon. Justice P.O Lifu, JP) on the 9th of August, 2024 ordered that all the Respondents, inclusive Peoples Democratic Party to stay action from conducting Congresses in all the Local Government Areas in Kaduna State based on the pendency of the subject matter of the suit.

“The Certified True Copy of the Enrolled Order is hereby attached and marked as Annexures 1. Furthermore, the Plaintiffs have filed a Motion for Interlocutory Injunction pending before the Court in the above captioned suit to specifically restrain the commission from participating and monitoring the State Congress in Kaduna State scheduled to hold on Saturday, the 21* of September 2024.

“The filed copy of the Plaintifts’ Motion for Interlocutory Injunction has been served on the commission. The proof of service of the Plaintiffs’ Motion for Interlocutory Injunction is hereby attached and marked as Annexures

“In view of these circumstances, we wish to draw your attention to the settled position of the law that any action taken by any individual and/or party to a suit affecting the res or subject matter during the pendency of the said Suit is automatically a nullity.

“This position is equally fortified by the Court,” the letter read.

PDP officials were unavailable for comment.

Despite attempts to reach the state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Felix Hyat and State Publicity Secretary, Abraham Catoh, via phone and text message, no response was received.