Ahead of Saturday’s State Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state, the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta this Friday warned the party against undermining the integrity of the judicial process.
Delivering a ruling in Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/134/2024 between Chief Folorunsho Iseoluwa Akande and Ors. v. PDP and Ors., the Hon. Justice Abiodun Adeyemi said, “On the issue of preserving the RES which is the major fear of the Plaintiffs, the RES in this matter is not perishable like food, nor is it irreparable like pulling down a building. The subject matter relates around party Congress and recognition of members in compliance with certain laws. I am fully aware of the powers vested in the Court to set aside any act done outside the provisions of the law.I believe it is better for the Court not to make any positive orders until the issue of Jurisdiction is settled.
“Consequently, I admonish parties to take note of the fact that this Court is now fully seized of this matter and to refrain from taking any steps that will disturb the RES or undermine the integrity of the judicial process…”
This ruling came on the heels of the dispute that has dogged the Ward and Local Government Congresses held on the 31st August, 2024 and 14th September, 2024 – in the build up to the state congress.
The party held parallel ward and local government congresses across the 236 wards and 20 local government areas.
In Ogun State, there are two major factions. The one led by the 2023 governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu and the coalition led by the trio of a former PDP governorship aspirant, Otunba Jimi Adebisi Lawal (JAL); the 2023 deputy governorship candidate, Hon. Abdulkadir Adekunle Akinlade and the immediate past State Chairman, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele.
It was gathered that in all the wards and LGAs, two sets of executives emerged for the 17 ward Exco positions in all the 236 wards and the 18 available Exco positions in each of the 20 local government areas
The foundation for the parallel congress was said to have been laid by the alleged refusal to use of the registers authenticated by the national leadership of the party for the Ward Congress which is in favour of the Lawal-led group.
This is so because the Ladi Adebutu group refused to submit its registers to the national leadership of the party for authentication ahead of the congresses.
The authenticated registers, it was learnt, consist names of the delegates to the Ward Congress (i.e. those to vote and be voted for at the elective congress) in line with Section 8 (10) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
In the meantime, the court has adjourned the matter till 15th October, 2024, for the hearing of the preliminary objection and originating summons.
