Benue PDP Stakeholders Boycott State Congress, Accuse NWC of Violating Court Order
A group of concerned stakeholders within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has announced its decision to boycott the upcoming state congress of the party, scheduled to take place on October 3. The move comes after the stakeholders accused the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) of violating a subsisting court order.
The decision was made public during a press conference held in Makurdi on Wednesday, where the stakeholders’ statement was read on behalf of the group by Chief Terngu Tsegba, a former Speaker pro tempore of the House of Representatives. According to Tsegba, the PDP would be violating the court order if it proceeds with the congress.
The court order, granted by a High Court in Makurdi, restrains the PDP from conducting local government and state congresses in Benue State. The judge has transferred the case to the Chief Judge of Benue State, who has yet to assign it to another judge, keeping the injunction in place.
Tsegba expressed his concerns over the NWC’s decision to proceed with the congress, describing it as “a total violation of the court order.” He urged all patriotic and law-abiding members of the PDP to ignore the announcement and wait for the court’s decision on the Benue PDP Congresses.
The stakeholders also notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the illegal action by the NWC and asked security agencies in Benue State to take note of the breach of the law. They emphasized that any activity in Benue with the semblance of a congress by the PDP would be an attempt in futility.
“We remain loyal to the party and stand only for the truth, fairness, justice, and laid-down rules of the party as provided in our constitution 2017 as amended,” the stakeholders said in a statement.
The boycott is the latest development in a long-standing dispute between the PDP stakeholders and the NWC over the party’s leadership and congresses. The move is expected to have significant implications for the party’s internal politics and its chances in the upcoming elections.
