The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered all parties involved in the suit seeking to halt the forthcoming National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case.
Justice James Omotosho, who gave the order on Thursday, warned that none of the parties should take any step capable of jeopardising or rendering the subject matter of the litigation nugatory.
The order followed a complaint by counsel to the PDP, Chris Uche (SAN), who informed the court that the ongoing case was preventing the party from proceeding with its preparations for the convention. He, therefore, prayed for an accelerated hearing of the matter.
In response, Justice Omotosho assured the parties that the court was determined to deliver its judgment before the end of October, emphasizing that he would not tolerate any form of delay tactics.
“You and I, as lawyers and ministers in the temple of justice, know that once a suit is filed in respect of any matter and parties have been served with processes, it is the law that no party should take any step in respect of such suit,” the judge stated.
“The court must not be overreached, and where such is done, it has the power to issue a consequential order nullifying such an act. Let us respect the law; it is in our collective interest.”
Justice Omotosho added that copies of the judgment would be made available to all parties immediately after delivery, noting that he personally types his judgments to avoid administrative delays.
The court subsequently fixed Monday for definite hearing of the case after confirming that all parties had been duly served with the relevant court processes.
The suit was filed by three aggrieved members of the PDP Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah George (PDP Secretary, South-South) who are seeking an order to stop the party’s National Convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, where new national officers are expected to be elected.
