A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 18, for the adoption of processes filed in the suit seeking to stop the forthcoming presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, slated to hold on May 28.
The suit was filed by a Commissioner of Trade and Investment in Abia State, Cosmos Ndukwe, against the PDP, and Chairman of its Primary Election Planning Committee and National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and others.
Specifically, Plaintiff wants an order of court stopping the primaries over the allegation of PDP’s refusal to zone its presidential ticket for the 2023 elections to the South-East geo-political zone of Nigeria.
Also, the plaintiff was aggrieved following his disqualification from participating in the presidential primary election based on alleged anti-party activity.
Justice Okorowo of the Federal High Court Abuja fixed the date for Tuesday after his ruling, which abridged the time for the hearing of the suit.
Counsel to the plaintiff Mr. Paul Erokoro SAN had applied to the court for abridgment of time within which to hear the matter because of its urgency.
Erokoro had contended that the presidential primaries of the PDP had been fixed for May 28, and therefore requested the court to reduce the time for hearing and determination of the suit before May 28.
Justice Okorowo agreed with the submission of Erokoro, adding that being a pre-election matter, time was of the essence.
The court therefore fixed May 18, for all counsel in the matter to adapt their processes.
Reacting, Counsel to the plaintiff Mr. Paul Erokoro SAN commended the court for abridging the time to hear the suit given the primaries of the party fixed for May 28.
Also, Counsel to the PDP, Mahmoud Magaji, San, said he would go back to his client to know whether or not they will be appealing the ruling, while counsel to the third defendant, Mr. Kalu Kalu, said he would appeal the ruling.
Dominica Nwabufo