PDP chairmanship: Judgement in Lamido’s suit stalls

Judgement in the suit filed by a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, before a Federal High Court in Abuja challenging his alleged exclusion from the national chairmanship election contest of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stalled. The court registrar announced to lawyers and litigants, including the ex-governor, who were in court that […]

Judgement in the suit filed by a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, before a Federal High Court in Abuja challenging his alleged exclusion from the national chairmanship election contest of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stalled.

The court registrar announced to lawyers and litigants, including the ex-governor, who were in court that the judgement was not ready and that parties would be communicated on the next adjourned date.

Justice Peter Lifu had on Tuesday, fixed November 13 for the judgement, before the latest adjournment.

The judge fixed the date after Lamido’s counsel, Jeph Njikonye (SAN); lawyer to the PDP, Omokayode Dada (SAN); Joseph Daudu (SAN), who appeared for parties that were joined in the suit, and INEC lawyer adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the suit.

• China’s 15th Five-Year Plan to continue the development miracle
• ‘Over 60,000 bakeries shut down in 4yrs’

Justice Lifu had, earlier on Tuesday, restrained the PDP from going ahead with its scheduled national convention pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit filed by Lamido.

Lamido had sought, among others, an interim order restraining the PDP from conducting its national convention pending the hearing and determination of his motion on notice before the court following the alleged denial of opportunity to buy the chairmanship contest  form.    

The judge noted that the order was based on the PDP’s refusal to comply with relevant conditions and laws for the conduct of such convention, that the notice was not published for the attention of members as required by law, and that the party did not issue the mandatory 21-day notice before the convention.

The judge added that the balance of convenience favoured the former governor because he would suffer more losses if excluded from the convention.

The judge cautioned that the rule of law must be followed strictly to avoid endangering democracy, adding that the court had a duty to intervene under Section 6 of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999.

However, Lamido couldn’t be reached for comments on the court’s decision.