Dissolution: S’West PDP excos sue Makarfi, others

The South-West Zonal Executive Committee of the Peoples
Democratic Party has headed for the Federal High Court in Abuja to
challenge the dissolution of the party’s executive committee in the
South-West.

The aggrieved zonal executive committee members are, in the
suit, seeking a court order nullifying the 75th National Executive
Committee meeting of the PDP as well as the resolutions passed at
the said meeting.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/732/2017, was filed by the sacked
Secretary to the PDP South-West Zonal Executive Committee, Chief
Pega Otemolu, on behalf of himself and members of the dissolved
executive committee.

Joined as respondents in the suit are the Independent National
Electoral Commission; the PDP; and the Chairman of the PDP National
Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi.

Also joined as respondents in the suit are Ben Obi, Eddy
Olafeso, Bunmi Jenyo and the Inspector-General of Police.

The suit by Otemolu was besides another one, marked
FHC/ABJ/CS/701/2017, filed before the same court by Adebayo Dayo
and Alhaji Semiu Sodipo on behalf of themselves and the dissolved
PDP executive committee in Ogun State.

The suit by the dissolved Ogun State PDP executive committee,
which has the PDP and INEC as respondents, is seeking orders
similar to those in the suit by Otemolu.

Otemolu claimed in his suit that the PDP deliberately defied and
subverted the May 17, 2016 order and June 24, 2016 judgment of the
Federal High Court in a suit marked, FHC/L/CS/605/16.

Besides, Otemolu contended that the terms and purpose of an
interim order made on August 10, 2017 by the court were also
flouted.

In their own suit, members of the dissolved PDP executive
committee in Ogun State, are seeking “an order nullifying the
ratification by and/or affirmative resolution of the Special
Non-Elective National Convention of the 1st defendant/respondent of
the 12th day of August, 2017, sanctioning, approving or effecting
the dissolution of the PDP Ogun State Executive Committee and the
appointment of a state Caretaker Committee in replacement
thereof.”

They are praying the court to nullify the “decision or
resolution of the PDP Special Non-Elective National Convention of
the 1st defendant/respondent of 12th August 2017 directing or
approving the conduct of a State Congress for the election of new
members of the PDP Ogun State Executive Committee.”

They pray the court to restrain the caretaker committee from
taking over their functions.

The case has been adjourned till September 5, 2017 for the
hearing of all pending applications in the suit.

The South-West Zonal Executive Committee of the Peoples
Democratic Party has headed for the Federal High Court in Abuja to
challenge the dissolution of the party’s executive committee in the
South-West.

The aggrieved zonal executive committee members are, in the
suit, seeking a court order nullifying the 75th National Executive
Committee meeting of the PDP as well as the resolutions passed at
the said meeting.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/732/2017, was filed by the sacked
Secretary to the PDP South-West Zonal Executive Committee, Chief
Pega Otemolu, on behalf of himself and members of the dissolved
executive committee.

Joined as respondents in the suit are the Independent National
Electoral Commission; the PDP; and the Chairman of the PDP National
Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi.

Also joined as respondents in the suit are Ben Obi, Eddy
Olafeso, Bunmi Jenyo and the Inspector-General of Police.

The suit by Otemolu was besides another one, marked
FHC/ABJ/CS/701/2017, filed before the same court by Adebayo Dayo
and Alhaji Semiu Sodipo on behalf of themselves and the dissolved
PDP executive committee in Ogun State.

The suit by the dissolved Ogun State PDP executive committee,
which has the PDP and INEC as respondents, is seeking orders
similar to those in the suit by Otemolu.

Otemolu claimed in his suit that the PDP deliberately defied and
subverted the May 17, 2016 order and June 24, 2016 judgment of the
Federal High Court in a suit marked, FHC/L/CS/605/16.

Besides, Otemolu contended that the terms and purpose of an
interim order made on August 10, 2017 by the court were also
flouted.

In their own suit, members of the dissolved PDP executive
committee in Ogun State, are seeking “an order nullifying the
ratification by and/or affirmative resolution of the Special
Non-Elective National Convention of the 1st defendant/respondent of
the 12th day of August, 2017, sanctioning, approving or effecting
the dissolution of the PDP Ogun State Executive Committee and the
appointment of a state Caretaker Committee in replacement
thereof.”

They are praying the court to nullify the “decision or
resolution of the PDP Special Non-Elective National Convention of
the 1st defendant/respondent of 12th August 2017 directing or
approving the conduct of a State Congress for the election of new
members of the PDP Ogun State Executive Committee.”

They pray the court to restrain the caretaker committee from
taking over their functions.

The case has been adjourned till September 5, 2017 for the
hearing of all pending applications in the suit.