A Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, will on July 15 give judgment on the suit by 30 members of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party PDP challenging the outcome of the Ward Congresses held by the party.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu announced the date in a rulling after hearing all pending applications in the suit.
Defendants in the suit are the over three hundred adhoc delegates that took part in the exercise, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, and the PDP.
The suit filled by Friday Iwok and others, is seeking an order of the Court declaring as illegal the outcome of the Party’s Ward Congress.
Mr. Iwok and others are saying that the exercise, which saw the emergence of three ad-hoc delegates per Ward elected at the Ward Congresses and one National Delegate elected at the Local Government Area Congresses, were illegal and unconstitutional.
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At a resumed and prolonged hearing Tuesday, Counsel to the Plaintiff Mr. Ahmed Raji SAN asked the court to entertain and grant all reliefs in the suit.
The defence Counsel Uwemedimo Nwoko SAN argued that the matter is a pre – election matter and the court has no jurisdiction to hear it.
He said they are matters to be handled by the political party.
He further argued that the ward Congresses were properly conducted in all 329 wards of Akwa Ibom State.
He urged the court to dismiss the suit for lack of merit.
Counsel to the Plaintiff Mr Ahmed Raji while reacting to the defense argued that, where a party abridges a rule to the detriment of a member is not a pre – election matter.
Raji noted that the court has the powers to hear the suit as the matter is the foundation of Democracy, which normally starts with the ward Congresses.
PDP’s Counsel, Mr Paul Usoro, also presented his arguments against the plaintiff urging the court to dismiss the suit.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu in a brief rulling therefore adjourned to July 15 for Judgement on the PDP ward Congresses in Akwa Ibom.
Nnenna.O
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