The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to suspend its national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo state, on Saturday and Sunday for failure to include former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido as a contestant.
Justice Peter Lifu in his judgement also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from supervising, monitoring or recognizing the outcome of any convention the party would hold without the inclusion of a former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, as a contestant.
Citing evidence before the court, Justice Lifu said that Lamido was unjustly denied the opportunity to obtain a nomination form to contest for the National Chairmanship position of the party, contrary to the Constitution and Regulations of the PDP.
The judge ruled that the party was under obligation to create opportunity for its members to serve by putting deliberate measures in place to enable them to realise their aspirations.
Justice Lifu subsequently gave a consequential order, directing that the convention be put on hold to allow the plaintiff (Lamido) to obtain the nomination form, mobilise his supporters, and conduct his campaign.
The planned PDP convention in Ibadan had earlier been declared illegal by a Federal High Court against the ruling of a state High Court in Oyo which okayed the convention.
