By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court Abuja has fixed May 18, for adoption of processes filed in the suit seeking to stop the forthcoming presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, fixed for May 28.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2022, was filed by a Commissioner of Trade and Investment in Abia State, Cosmos Ndukwe, against the PDP and Chairman of its Primary Election Planning Committee and National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and others.
Specifically, the Plaintiff wants an order of court stopping the primaries over allegation of PDP’s refusal to zone its presidential ticket for the 2023 presidential election to the South-East geo political zone.
Also, Ndukwe was aggrieved following his disqualification from participating in the presidential primary election based on anti-party activity.
Justice Okorowo fixed the date on Tuesday after his ruling which abridged the time for hearing of the suit.
Plaintiff’s counsel, Paul Erokoro SAN had applied to the court for abridgement of time within which to hear the matter because of the urgency of the issue at stake.
Erokoro had contended that the presidential primaries of the PDP had been fixed for May 28, and therefore requested the court to reduce the time for hearing and determination of the suit before May 28.
Justice Okorowo agreed with the submission of Erokoro, adding that being a preelection matter, time was of essence.
Consequently, the court has fixed May 18, for all counsel in the matter to adopt their processes.
Reacting, Erokoro commended the court for abridging the time to hear the suit in view of the primaries of the party fixed for May 28.
Erokoro recalled that in the case of Hope Uzodimma versus Osita Izunaso, it took the judge four days to hear and determine the substantive suit, which attracted commendation from the Supreme Court.
Counsel to the PDP Mahmoud Magaji SAN said he would go back to his client to know whether or not they will be appealing the ruling.
