The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been barred from acknowledging the Steve Oruruo-led caretaker committee of the Ebonyi State branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a ruling delivered on Monday, the Federal High Court in Abakaliki also stopped the PDP from acknowledging the caretaker committee.
Naturenex reports that the presiding judge, Justice Hillary Oshomah, issued the decree while considering a motion filed in a lawsuit by a former Ebonyi State PDP chairman, Silas Onu, against the party and INEC.
The court stressed that this decision will remain in effect until the case is fully heard and the initial legal action is resolved.
It is worth noting that the party has been caught in turmoil, which began before the 2023 general elections and impacted its electoral prospects.
The turmoil has persisted even after the elections, leading to deep divisions within the party, with many of its top leaders leaving for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, as there was hope for unity within the party, the National Working Committee of the PDP, led by an Ebonyi State native, Steve Oruruo, appointed a caretaker committee to manage the party’s operations.
This move sparked a new crisis within the party, with notable figures like Ex-Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, defecting to the APC in the last two weeks.
On June 20, 2024, in a formal request submitted, a dissatisfied party stakeholder, Onu, sought a court order to prevent the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from selecting the Chairman, Secretary, and members of the Caretaker Committee until the court had reviewed and decided on the original summons.
Naturenex understands that Onu also requested the court to prevent the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) defendants/respondents from acknowledging any individuals chosen by the National Organizing Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ebonyi State Chapter, Caretaker Committee until the court’s review and decision on the original summons.
During the court proceedings on July 19, the legal representative for the PDP, Godwin Ngwuta, informed the court that the party was not planning to contest the request.
In his decision, Justice Oshomah approved Onu’s requests and prohibited both the INEC and the PDP from recognizing the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ebonyi State Chapter, until the court had made its decision on the original summons.
He said: “That the 1st and 2nd Defendants are by Order of this Honourable Court barred from recognizing anyone appointed as Chairman, Secretary and Members of Peoples Democratic Party, Ebonyi State Chapter, Caretaker Committee by the National Organizing Secretary pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Summons.”
Justice Oshomah further ordered all Parties in the matter “to take note of the pendency of this action and maintain status quo ante bellum by virtue of the doctrine of lis pendis and not to embark on any act or conduct capable of destroying the res and subject matter of this action or take any step calculated to or with the potential of rendering nugatory the outcome or any decision of this Honourable Court on the substantive action.”
