A Lagos High Court has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to stop the planned election scheduled to hold tomorrow on November 13, 2019.
Justice Taofikat Oyekan- Abdullahi ordered the party to maintain status quo in an enrolment order filed before the court by the Lagos party chairman, Dr. Adegbola Dominic and seven others.
The claimants had approached the court in a suit delineated LD/3600 GCM/ 19, praying for an order to restrain the party and other members to stop the proposed special election schedule to hold tomorrow, November 13, 2019.
Other claimants aside Dominic are; John Babatunde Agbaje, Adeniyi Funsho Pakanu, Kehinde Oshinowo, Ademola Badejo, Alhaja Fatai Ajisefunmi, Bidemi Akojenu and Chief Taiwo Kuye as the fisrt to seventh claimants.
They want court to restrain the defendants; the Party, PDP, Senator Ben Obi, Biodun Olujimi, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Danladi Baidu Tijo, Engineer Ahmed M. Mukthar and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The judge held that the higher court has warned the court not to get involved in the party politics and that the maintenance of the law and order in Lagos is primus of the court.
“It is hereby ordered that the election planned for 13th November has no input of the state executive nor in compliance with the party constitution. That the court shall halt in making any order other than the fact that parties shall keep peace and maintain status quo.”
The judge further ordered that the motion on notice be served on the respondents and the Director of State Security Service (DSS) and the Nigeria Police and adjourned argument on the notice to November 18, 2019.
However, after the proceedings, Dominic reiterated that he remained the party chairman.
Dominic disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Lagos, that he remained the party chairman, noting that the planned election to hold tomorrow by some members of the party is illegal.
He said that the leaders of the party are determined that the party remain stable and vigorous.
According to him, I remained the chairman of the party in Lagos State. In this state today, it is one captain, we dont have any other captain that can pilot the the affairs of the party.
On his part, the PDP chieftain, Chief Olabode George therefore urged the Kogi and Bayelsa indigene to vote enmass for the party as a dividend of democracy.
While Ebenezer Babatope, Akerele Buknor and Alabi Fawole alleged that the people behind the planned party election are working for other party.
” We know who are behind the election. They are working for All Progressive Congresss (APC), they want to destabilise the party.”
“It is the same thing they planned to do in Osun State. Those who are behind this cannot bring oir party down. Some over ambitious young men are trying to do this. They planned to invade other state and we resist the invasion.”
