A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to only accept the list of Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidates for the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states from the Modu Sheriff-led faction of the party.
Justice Okon Abang, delivering ruling in an interlocutory application filed by two governorship aspirants on the platform of the PDP in Edo and Ondo states, granted an injunction restraining INEC, the PDP and their agents from dealing with or according any facility required by law to any other persons or group than the Sheriff-led National Working Committee of the party.
The plaintiffs in the suit in a PDP governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Chief Benson Akingboye, and one of his counterparts in Edo State, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma.
Justice Abang ruled that his restraining orders against the INEC and the PDP would subsist pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/439/2016, filed by the plaintiffs.
INEC is the 1st defendant while PDP is the second defendant.
The Federal High Court’s restraining order came barely 24 hours after Justice Valentine Ashi of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, delivered a judgment sacking all national officers of the party who assumed office on the basis of an illegal amendment of Article 46(7) of the party’s Constitution.
Sheriff, who is in a battle for the control of the party with the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee of the party that was recently set up at a national convention in Port Harcourt, benefitted from the said illegal amendment of the party’s constitution.
Consequently, the former Borno State governor is believed to have been sacked by the Wednesday’s court judgment.
But ruling on the interlocutory application on Thursday, Justice Abang directed INEC and the PDP and their agents to “recognise, deal with and accord all facilities required by law “(regarding the gubernatorial elections to be conducted by INEC in Edo and Ondo states) to the Ali Modu Sheriff, Prof Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju led NWC”.
Justice Abang further directed INEC and the PDP to “reject and ignore any activity (including primary elections/congresses for the nomination of candidates of the PDP for the gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states, purportedly conducted on behalf of the 2nd defendant (PDP) by any other persons or group of persons other than the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Prof Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju led NWC.”
A big show of shame for d judiciary. Why should Buhari respect ur rulings?
ReplyDeleteYou are a disappointment to law profession. Somebody how was sacked. You now recognize him.
ReplyDeleteI am really having trouble comprehending the filings issued in some of our courts. Only a few days ago, a court sacked this same person as d chair of PDP and today another court is saying he is d only authentic chair PDP. Is there no coordination in our judiciary system. Is that they can all give rulings as they see fit. If that's the case, then they are doing a good job of creating lawlessness.
ReplyDeleteAnd to Mr. Madu Sheriff. Please is it by force. If the people don't want you please respectfully go your way. Or are you acting on a pre arranged plan.
It is not the judge that is talking it is the money he has pocketed that does. This is absolute misuse of judicial powers for reasons best known to the judge.
ReplyDeleteWhy is the judicial council quiet on such an impoertant issue?
ReplyDeleteWho told you guys that the first judgement were as reported. The judiciary has no problem the problem is with the media. Don't you hear Ali Modu saying the first judgement doesn't portrayed he has been sacked.
ReplyDelete