The Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta on Friday warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against undermining the integrity of the judicial process.
The court made this statement ahead of Saturday’s State Congress of the PDP in Ogun State.
Delivering a ruling in *Folorunsho Akande and Ors. v. PDP and Ors.*, Hon. Justice Abiodun Adeyemi addressed the issue of preserving the RES, which is the major concern of the Plaintiffs. He stated that the RES in this matter is not perishable like food, nor is it irreparable like the demolition of a building.
Akande asserted that the subject matter relates to the party congress and recognition of members in compliance with certain laws. He expressed confidence in the Court’s power to set aside any act done outside the provisions of the law.
He added that 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 follows the disputes that have arisen from the Ward and Local Government Congresses held on 31st August, 2024, and 14th September, 2024, leading up to the state congress.
The party held parallel ward and local government congresses across the 236 wards and 20 local government areas.
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In Ogun State, there are two major factions: one led by the 2023 governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, and the other by a coalition led by the trio of a former PDP governorship aspirant, Jimi Lawal; the 2023 deputy governorship candidate, Abdulkadir Akinlade; and the immediate past State Chairman, 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 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 the registers authenticated by the national leadership of the party for the Ward Congress, which favoured the Lawal-led group.
This situation arose because the Adebutu group refused to submit its registers to the national leadership of the party for authentication ahead of the congresses.
Meanwhile, the court has adjourned the matter until 15th October 2024, for the hearing of the preliminary objection and the originating summons.
