By Ameh Ejekwonyilo
Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state has asked a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, to stop the planned dissolution of its State Executive Committee by the national leadership of the party.
The case which came up before Justice Sylvanus.C. Oriji was adjourned till November 6, when the national leadership of the party, through its lawyer, Mr. C.I Paul, told the court that there were ongoing efforts to settle the case out of court.
Justice Oriji said the matter could go on for hearing or report of settlement on the said adjourned date depending on the outcome of the settlement talks.
The plan to dissolve the party’s State EXCO was said to have been hatched during a meeting held on September 30, 2014, in Abuja at the official residence of the Senate President, David Mark, who is the Chairman of the party’s Reconciliation and Integration Committee.
The decision was said to have been reached to pave the way for the re-constitution of the party’s State EXCO in order to cede 50 per cent its membership to the loyalists of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who newly defected from the Labour Party to the PDP.
But the six plaintiffs, who are members of the State EXCO, had on October 2, filed their suit, asking the court to restrain the Mark-led committee and the Independent National Electoral Committee from implementing the said recommendation.
Through their lawyer, Mr. Abdul Ibrahim, they argued that having been elected on March 17, 2012 to serve a four-year term, the dissolution of the EXCO would amount to an infraction of their rights.
The plaintiffs include the State Chairman of the party in the state, Omotayo Alabi, the Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Fatai Adams, and the Secretary, Chief Oyedele Ibine.
Apart from Mark and INEC, who are the 14th and 16th defendants respectively, other defendants, are the PDP, its National Chairman, Mr. Adamu Mu’azu, the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, and the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo.
The plaintiffs want the court to declare that by virtue of provisions of section 223(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and sections 47(1) of the PDP constitution they had the legal right to hold their offices for a four-year term.
