Anita Ogona
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS), Police, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to refrain from disrupting the conduct of Congresses in Rivers State.
The ruling was issued by Justice Peter Lifu.
These Congresses, which are scheduled to elect new officers for the PDP at the ward, local government, and state levels, were at risk of being interrupted by the defendants.
It is worth noting that a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital, had barred the party from holding its congress last Tuesday.
However, Justice Lifu’s decision has cleared the way for the PDP to proceed with the Congresses as planned.
The ruling came in response to an ex-parte application filed by six members of the PDP in Rivers State. The applicants sought to prevent the defendants from hindering or disrupting the Congresses, which aim to elect ad-hoc and national delegates as outlined in the PDP’s constitution and guidelines.
Justice Lifu instructed the PDP and its national officers to strictly adhere to the guidelines and schedule of activities for the Congresses. He also prohibited the PDP from permitting individuals who did not obtain nomination forms within the stipulated timeframe to run for elective offices or delegate positions.
The court has scheduled August 15 for all parties to appear for their respective defenses. The six PDP members who filed the ex-parte application were represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria K. C. O. Njemanze.
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