2023: Court Rules On PDP Presidential Primary

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, ruled on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP‘s forthcoming presidential primary election.

Naija News understands that a suit before the court had challenged the party’s primaries scheduled earlier to hold on May 28.

One of the presidential aspirants of the PDP, Ndukwe Chukwudi, had on April 28, petitioned Justice Donatus Okorowo to consider halting the party’s presidential primary over alleged defiance.

Okorowo claimed in the suit that PDP had shunned its zoning agreement and has refused to field a candidate from the South-East.

Naija News understands that Justice Okorowo had earlier fixed May 18 for parties to file their written addresses which would then lead to a verdict on the case.

However, on Wednesday, May 25, counsel for the PDP chairman, M. Aliyu (SAN), told the court that he had entered an application before the Court of Appeal.

He, therefore, petitioned the court to adjourn the case since his application before the Court of Appeal would be heard on May 26.

Other defendants in the suit including the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and another interested party, aligned with the submissions of Aliyu.

Meanwhile, Chukwudi’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), argued that the court should refuse the second defendant’s application but added that an application for a stay of proceeding or adjournment fell within the discretionary powers of the judge.

In his response, however, Justice Okorowo ruled that he would have to adjourn proceedings because an appeal had been entered.

He also said that adjournment was necessary because one of the parties seeking to be joined in the matter had not been heard.

The Judge said, “I have seen the processes filed by the second defendant regarding the appeal, and parties have acknowledged that they have received the notice of hearing.

“In the present case, there is a motion for joinder, an application which the court cannot ignore.

“I hereby order an adjournment given the motion for stay at the Court of Appeal. Matter adjourned to June 1 for the continuation of hearing.”