A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned hearing of a suit seeking to stop the planned May 28 presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to May 10.
A presidential aspirant and former Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Cosmas Ndukwe, had on April 28 brought an ex-parte application for an order of injunction restraining the PDP from proceeding with its scheduled primary election pending hearing and determination of his suit challenging the position of the party on the issue of zoning the party’s presidential ticket.
The party, its national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu; Senator Samuel Anyanwu as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were listed first to fourth defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2022.
However, the presiding Juge, Justice Donatus Okorowo had ordered that the PDP should appear before it on May 5 and show cause why the court should not accede to the plaintiff’s demand.
The case was adjourned again to May 10 following complaints by counsel for the plaintiff, Paul Erokoro (SAN), that the affidavit by the PDP showing why the primary should not be stopped was served on him late on Wednesday.
Erokoro said he needed time to respond to the reasons adduced by the PDP against the suit by his client.
Counsel for the PDP, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), did not object to the request for adjournment.
Justice Okorowo subsequently shifted hearing to May 10 and ordered parties to file and exchange their processes ahead of the day.
