Rabiu Omaku
The High Court sitting in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Monday reserved a ruling on a motion seeking to nullify Wards, Local Government and State congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party held recently in the State despite an order of court restraining the State Working Committee to hold congresses.
The Presiding Judge,Justice Abdullahi Shams-Shammah decided after Johnson Usman, A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Counsel to the third Defendant, drew the attention of the court to stay the proceeding because of an appeal filed at the Appeal Court, Makurdi Division.
When the court allowed the Counsel to present his application on the stay of proceeding, he told the court to give him seven days to reply to the response on his counter-motion by Counsel to the plaintiffs, The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Muhammad Ishaq Dikko in line with the rules of the court.
Justice Shamah after listening to an extensive argument adjourned the case to 11 December, 2024 to enable the third respọndent Counsel to reply and for the continuation of hearing.
The court, on September 27, 2024, gave a restraining order to the party from conducting congresses and extended it to October 2 and 8.
The court directive followed a motion filed by the plaintiffs, 16 members of the party led by Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, representing Nasarawa South Senatorial zone.
The plaintiffs filed a case against PDP (first respondent), Francis Orogu, The immediate past PDP Chairman, Second respondent, and the State Working Committee of the party, third respondent respectively.
Despite the restraining order by the court, the party went ahead and conducted the congresses, which prompted the current motion by the plaintiffs seeking its nullification.
Following this development, counsel to the plaintiffs, Ishaka Mudi-Dikko on November 20, filed a motion seeking the nullification of the congresses.
Mudi-Dikko in the motion, told the court that the State Working Committee of PDP had conducted the congresses against the restraining order that was issued.
He also urged the court to charge the former PDP Chairman in the State for contempt and nullify the congresses which the respondents are challenging at the Appeal Court.
