The South-West Zonal Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has headed for the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the dissolution of the party’s executive committee in the South-West.
The aggrieved zonal executive committee members are, in the suit, seeking a court order nullifying the 75th National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP as well as the resolutions passed at the said meeting.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/732/2017, was filed by the sacked Secretary to the PDP South-West Zonal Executive Committee, Chief Pega Otemolu, on behalf of himself and members of the dissolved executive committee.
Joined as respondents in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission; the PDP; and the Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi.
Also joined as respondents in the suit are Ben Obi, Eddy Olafeso, Bunmi Jenyo and the Inspector-General of Police.
The suit by Otemolu was besides another one, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/701/2017, filed before the same court by Adebayo Dayo and Alhaji Semiu Sodipo on behalf of themselves and the dissolved PDP executive committee in Ogun State.
The suit by the dissolved Ogun State PDP executive committee, which has the PDP and INEC as respondents, is seeking orders similar to those in the suit by Otemolu.
Otemolu claimed in his suit that the PDP deliberately defied and subverted the May 17, 2016 order and June 24, 2016 judgment of the Federal High Court in a suit marked, FHC/L/CS/605/16.
Besides, Otemolu contended that the terms and purpose of an interim order made on August 10, 2017 by the court were also flouted.
In their own suit, members of the dissolved PDP executive committee in Ogun State, are seeking “an order nullifying the ratification by and/or affirmative resolution of the Special Non-Elective National Convention of the 1st defendant/respondent of the 12th day of August, 2017, sanctioning, approving or effecting the dissolution of the PDP Ogun State Executive Committee and the appointment of a state Caretaker Committee in replacement thereof.”
They are praying the court to nullify the “decision or resolution of the PDP Special Non-Elective National Convention of the 1st defendant/respondent of 12th August 2017 directing or approving the conduct of a State Congress for the election of new members of the PDP Ogun State Executive Committee.”
They pray the court to restrain the caretaker committee from taking over their functions.
The case has been adjourned till September 5, 2017 for the hearing of all pending applications in the suit.
