2015: Court asked to stop PDP national convention

By Ahmed Abubakar

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has been asked to stop the planned national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

About two days ago, the ruling party shifted its convention from the 6th of December, 2014 to December 10 and 11, 2014.

The party is expected to adopt President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate of the party at the convention for next year’s Presidential election.

Justice Evoh Chukwu of the court is expected to hear the case on December 10, 2014.

The plaintiff in the suit, Aliyu Ayuba Gubrin, a House of Representatives aspirant from Adamawa state, through his lawyer, Lilian Ojimma, in a motion on notice asked the court to restrain the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu from acting as the chairman of the party.

The plaintiff, in suit number FHC/AbJ/CS/821/2014 and dated November 10, 2014 said the resignation of the immediate past Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, did not comply with the provision of Section 47(5) of the constitution of the party which stipulates that a 30days notice be given to the National Executive Committee by Bamanga Tukur.

The defendants in the suit are the PDP, Alhaji Tukur, Mu’azu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In the suit, the plaintiff asked for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the PDP from holding its national convention slated for December 10 and 11, 2014 under the chairmanship of Adamu Mu’azu pending the determination of the suit.

He also asked for an order of the court restraining Mu’azu from acting as the national chairman of the PDP pending the final determination of the suit.

Last week, two separate suits challenging the appointment of Mu’azu were withdrawn at the court and about two days later after the suits were withdrawn, another fresh suit was filed before the court, seeking the ouster of Mu’azu as the party chairman.

Already, Mu’azu is gearing up to chair the party’s National Convention.