A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its acting National Chairman, Iliya Damagum, from taking any step that could adversely affect the outcome of the recently conducted Southsouth zonal meeting and congress of party.
The judgement is coming on the heels controversies trailing the outcome of the meeting and congress. This is even as some members have gone to court to challenge the conduct.
Justice James Omotosho issued the order, while ruling on an ex parte motion filed in a suit filed by Alabh George Turnah (for himself as Zonal Secretary of the Southsouth zone of the PDP and members of the Southsouth Zonal Working Committee of the party).
According to report, the defendants in the suit are listed as: Damagum, the PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The plaintiff alleged that the national PDP was planning to hold a meeting on March 11 to nullify the outcome of the Southsouth zonal meeting of the party held in Benin, the Edo State capital, on February 15, and the zonal elective congress held in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, on February 22.
Turnah recalled that at the February 22 elective congress, Chief Dan Orbih was re-elected as the Vice Chairman of the PDP for the Southsouth Zone and other party chieftains as members of the Zonal Working Committee of the party for the Southsouth Zone.
He contended among others, that it is not the responsibility of the party’s national leadership to determine how the zonal leadership of the party conducts its congresses and hold meetings.
Turnah noted that it was the national PDP that set the timetable for zonal congresses. Which formed the basis of the Southsouth zonal congress held in Calabar on February 22.
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 give the defendants the opportunity to be heard. This is before the court could take a decision on the reliefs sought.
Justice Omotosho held that the matter, facts and allegations 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 the party”.
He also 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.”
Justice Omotosho, therefore , ordered the plaintiffs to serve the defendants/respondents with the motion on notice for interlocutory injunctions. As well as other documents so far filed through substituted means for them to react.
By the substituted service granted by the court, the plaintiff is required to serve all the court documents on Damagum and the PDP at the party’s headquarters in Abuja. This is by pasting or handling to any adult in the building.
Justice Omotosho emphasized the need for the court to protect judicial proceedings. He, therefore, ordered that no party, the defendants inclusive, shall take any steps to overreach the motion on notice for interlocutory injunctions dated March 6, 2025 but filed on March 7, 2025.
The judge, therefore, adjourned till March 18 for the defendants/respondents to respond to the motion for interlocutory injunctions and for possible hearing of the motion.