Ogun PDP Crisis: Court Orders Party, INEC To Recognise Primaries Conducted By Group Loyal To Buruji Kashamu

Ogun PDP Crisis: Court Orders Party, INEC To Recognise Primaries Conducted By Group Loyal To Buruji Kashamu

The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee from granting any recognition or accepting as valid any primaries for next year’s election except those conducted with the Ad Hoc ward delegates list.

The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting as valid any such primaries or publishing any list other than the Ad Hoc Ward delegate list prepared by the Adebayo Dayo-led executive. 

Justice Okon Abang, who made the orders while ruling on an ex-parte applicant filed by the plaintiffs' counsel, Ajibola Oluyede, also permitted them to serve the alleged contemnors with the motion on notice for committal outside Lagos, such as in Abuja and Ogun State. 

The judge further ordered PDP and INEC to ensure that the primaries in Ogun State for the election of candidates for next year's election scheduled to hold on December 6, 7 and 8 are conducted only with the Ad Hoc Ward delegate list. 

The plaintiffs in the suit are accusing  the respondents had been attempting to remove them from office, despite two Federal High Court judgments affirming the legality of their positions.

It will be recalled that Justice Abang had on Monday, warned that he would not tolerate any disobedience of his orders by anybody. 

He said he would compel former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole and former Ogun State governor Gbenga Daniel to appear before him if they fail to appear before him on December 15. 
Other alleged contemnors in the proceedings are the PDP, Dave Salako and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 

The court had earlier restrained the PDP from dissolving the Adebayo Dayo-led executive in Ogun State. Justice Abang ordered parties to maintain status quo ante bellum.

However, Oluyede said the PDP was in the process of holding primaries with another delegates list other than that prepared by the Adebayo-led executive.