Benue State High Court Halts PDP Congress in Six Local Government Areas

A High Court in Gboko, Benue State, has issued a restraining order, preventing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from conducting local government congresses in six affected areas. The order was signed by Justice J. M. Ayua on Thursday, August 8, 2024.

The applicants, led by Senator Orker Jev, Terseer Tsumba, Aondoyina Grace, Tergun Tsegba, and 13 others, sought a restraining order to prevent the party from proceeding with local government congresses until the reason behind the non-conduct of ward congresses on July 27, 2024, in the affected areas is determined.

The affected local government areas include Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Kwande, Ushongo, and Konshisha. The defendants in the suit are the PDP, its acting national chairman, national organising secretary, and the state chairman of the party, John Ngbede.

According to the restraining order, the respondents, their agents, servants, or privies are prohibited from conducting local government congress elections scheduled for August 10, 2024, in the six local governments in Benue State. The court has fixed August 18, 2024, for further hearing of the motion.

This development comes as a surprise to many, as the PDP had planned to conduct the congresses in the affected areas. The restraining order is seen as a major setback for the party, which had been gearing up for the elections.

The outcome of this court order remains to be seen, but it is clear that the PDP will need to take a closer look at the reasons behind the non-conduct of the ward congresses and address any issues before proceeding with the local government congresses.