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Federal Court Dismisses Request to Halt PDP Congresses in Kaduna State

A federal high court in Abuja, Nigeria, has dismissed a request to halt the planned local government and state congresses of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State. The court rejected a plea by six aggrieved party members to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring the conduct of the congresses.

Justice Peter Lifu, the presiding judge, delivered his ruling on an ex-parte application brought by the six plaintiffs, who are card-carrying members of the party in Kaduna State. After hearing their arguments through their lawyer, Mr. Affis Matanmi, Justice Lifu held that their requests for restraining orders against the conduct of the congresses could not be granted.

The judge, however, advised the PDP and INEC to refrain from taking any further action on the matter pending the determination of the suit. The court also fixed August 27 for the hearing of a motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction filed by the plaintiffs.

The congresses are aimed at electing new officers for the party at the local and state levels. The PDP, PDP Kaduna State chapter, and INEC are the first to third defendants in the suit. The plaintiffs, who are Sheu Isa Dan Ina, Mutari Shuiabu, Yusuf Suleiman, Nura Waziri, Malam Mansur Alasan, and Jaafar Abubakar, have claimed to be card-carrying members of the party in Kaduna State.

This development comes amid heightened tensions in the PDP following recent power struggles and leadership issues. The ruling is expected to ease some of the pressure on the party’s leadership and allow the congresses to proceed without any further interruptions.

Meanwhile, the fate of the congresses hangs in the balance as the court waits for the determination of the suit on August 27.