By NewsBits
A Federal High Court Enugu Division has been urged to declare the primaries conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State in May this year, null and void, due to irregularities.
In Suit No. FHC/EN/CS/114/2022 between Evang Ifoh Cyprian & Anor Vs. Peoples Democratic Party & Anor, the Plaintiffs sought for the determination of “whether the Plaintiffs are constitutionally empowered to participate in the State Party Congress, State Assembly Congress, House of representatives Congress and Senatorial District Congress of the 1st Defendant to elect the Governorship candidate, State House of Assembly candidates, House of Representatives candidates and Senatorial candidates of the 1st Defendant in Enugu State upon a proper construction of sections 222(c), 223(1)(a) and (2)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Articles 2, 25(1)(2)(c),(5)(a) and (b),(6)(a) and (b), and (7)(a) and (b) of Peoples Democratic Party”
The Plaintiffs also prayed the Court that if the above question for determination in the Originating Summons be answered in the affirmative, to grant the following reliefs in favour of the Plaintiff:
“(1) A DECLARATION that the Plaintiffs are constitutionally empowered to participate in the State Party Congress, State Assembly Congress, House of representatives Congress and Senatorial District Congress of the 1st Defendant to elect the Governorship candidate, State House of Assembly candidates, House of Representatives candidates and Senatorial candidates of the 1st Defendant in Enugu State upon a proper construction of sections 222 (c), 223(1) (a) and (2)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Articles 2, 25(1)(2)(c),(5)(a) and (b),(6)(a) and (b), and (7)(a) and (b) of Peoples Democratic Party Constitution (as amended 2017).
(2) A DECLARATION that the 1st Defendant’s exclusion and or prevention of the Plaintiffs from participating in the State Party Congress, State Assembly Congress, House of representatives Congress and Senatorial District Congress of the 1st Defendant to elect the Governorship candidate, State House of Assembly candidates, House of Representatives candidates and Senatorial candidates of the 1st Defendant in Enugu State is in breach of Articles 2, 25(1)(2)(c),(5)(a) and (b),(6)(a) and (b), and (7)(a) and (b) of Peoples Democratic Party Constitution (as amended 2017) which rendered the State Party Congress, State Assembly Congress, House of representatives Congress and Senatorial District Congress of the 1st Defendant conducted to elect the Governorship candidate, State House of Assembly candidates, House of Representatives candidates and Senatorial candidates of the 1st Defendant in Enugu State for the 2023 general elections null and void.
(3) AN ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining the 3rd Defendants whether by herself, or through its representatives, agents, or any person or persons however so called, from receiving or accepting from the 1st Defendant or by or through her representatives, agents, organ or any person or persons however so called, any list or names of candidates elected at the State Party Congress, State Assembly Congress, House of representatives Congress and Senatorial District Congress of the 1st Defendant organized to elect the Governorship candidate, State House of Assembly candidates, House of Representatives candidates and Senatorial candidates of the 1st Defendant in Enugu State in exclusion and without the participate of the Plaintiffs and in breach of Articles 2, 25(1)(2)(c),(5)(a) and (b),(6)(a) and (b), and (7)(a) and (b) of Peoples Democratic Party Constitution (as amended 2017) or putting the names of the said candidates of the 1st Defendant in the ballot for the 2023 general elections.”
The matter which came up on October 7, 2022, at the Federal High Court Enugu was further adjourned for hearing.
