‎PDP Crisis: South West, Ogun PDP Excos Sue Makarfi, Obi, others

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State, Politics Tuesday, August 15th, 2017

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The South West Zonal Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has filed a suit before a Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking an order for the nullification of the 75th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP and the ratification or adoption at the special non-elective National Convention of the party held last Saturday.

The zonal executive, among other demands, also prayed the court to grant an order nullifying the ratification by and/or affirmative resolution of the convention approving or effecting the dissolution of the PDP South West Executive Committee and the appointment of a South West Zonal Executive Committee in replacement thereof.

The suit was filed in the court on behalf of the members of the South West Zonal Executive Committee of the party by its zonal secretary, Chief Pega Otemolu.

The suit, FHC/ABJ/732/2017, has the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, Senators Ahmad Makarfi and Ben Obi, Eddy Olafeso, Bunmi Jenyo and the Inspector-General of Police, as defendants.

This is even as the Ogun State chapter of the party under the leadership of Engr. Adebayo Dayo is also praying the same court to set aside its purported dissolution by the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Convention.

The case with Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/701/2017 has Engr. Adebayo Dayo and Alhaji Semiu Sodipo as the first and second plaintiffs who sued for themselves and on behalf of the Ogun State Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The defendants are the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the suit filed by Otemolu, the PDP deliberately defied and subverted the order and judgment of the Federal High Court in SUIT NO. FHC/L/CS/605/16, delivered on the May 17, 2016 and June 24, 2016 respectively; and also contravened the terms and purpose of the interim order made on August 10, 2017, by the Federal High Court.

The plaintiff contended that the PDP violated an order of interim injunction restraining the party from operating in the South West Zone of the party through any committee in which the applicant, Chief Pegba Otemolu and Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe are not members in the capacity of Secretary and Chairman respectively of the South West Zonal Executive Committee of the PDP pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The plaintiff further told the court that the party disobeyed an order of interim injunction restraining the PDP and its officers, organs and delegates from recognizing any harmonization, restructuring or disruption of the PDP Leadership structures in the South West Zone.

Listing its prayers to the court, the plaintiff said it is seeking an “An order nullifying the decision taken by the 2nd defendant/respondent (PDP) at its 75th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which took place on the 11th day of August 2017 (and its ratification or adoption at the Special non-elective National Convention of the 2nd Defendant of 12th August) to the effect that the 5th and 6th defendants/respondents (Olafeso and Jenyo) be recognised as Chairman and Secretary of the South West Zonal Executive Committee notwithstanding the order of the Federal High Court made on the 17th day of May 2016 in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/605/2016 nullifying the purported South West Zonal Congress of 14th of May 2016 at which they claim to have been elected and for their inclusion in a Conciliation Committee and/or Executive/Caretaker Committee to usurp the functions and powers of the authentic officers of the South West Executive Committee as confirmed by the judgment of the Federal High Court in the said Suit No. FHC/L/CS/605/2016.

“An order nullifying the ratification by and/or affirmative resolution of the Special Non-Elective National Convention of the 2nd defendant/respondent of the 12th day of August 2017 sanctioning, approving or effecting the dissolution of the PDP South West Executive Committee and the appointment of a South West Caretaker Committee in replacement thereof.”

In the suit filed by the Ogun State PDP, the plaintiffs are seeking an order nullifying the decision taken by the national leadership of the party at its 75th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

Specifically, it is praying the court for “an order nullifying the ratification by and/or affirmative resolution of the Special Non-Elective National Convention of the 1stdefendant/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.

“An order nullifying 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.

“An order restraining the 1st Defendant from setting up a Caretaker Committee to take over the functions of the Plaintiffs as members of the Executive Committee of the PDP in Ogun State.”

The Ogun State chapter of the party is also seeking an order restraining INEC “from supervising any congress in Ogun State or recognizing any congress of the 1stDefendant (PDP) in Ogun State during the subsistence of the tenure of the Plaintiffs as officers of the Ogun State executive committee of the PDP which expires in May 2020.”

When the matter came up Tuesday, the court adjourned the matter till the 5th of September, 2017, for the hearing of all pending applications but warned against disobedience of its orders.