A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, October 31 refused to grant an application filed by former Jigawa Gov. Sule Lamido, seeking an order restraining the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with its scheduled national convention.
Lamido, in the motion ex parte moved by his lawyer, Mr. Jeph Njikonye (SAN), had urged the court to make the interim order, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed alongside it.
Justice Peter Lifu, in a ruling, ordered the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who are defendants in the suit to come and show cause why the ex-governor’s reliefs should not be granted.
He gave the defendants 72 hours from the date of service to respond and adjourned the case until November 6 for a hearing.
Lamido, who is the plaintiff in the fresh suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025, named the PDP and INEC as 1st and 2nd defendants.
In the ex-parte motion dated and filed on October 28 by his team of lawyers led by Njikonye, Lamido sought two orders;
“An interim order of the honourable court restraining the 1st defendant from conducting its national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State (or any other place or state) November 15 and November 16 or any other date(s).
“An interim order of court restraining the 2nd defendant (INEC) from monitoring, supervising and recognising the 1st defendant’s national convention”.
Giving seven grounds why his application should be considered, Lamido averred that once an action is pending in court, parties are bound to maintain status quo to avoid subjecting the court or the plaintiff to a fait accompli.
The ex-governor said the court has an inherent jurisdiction to preserve the subject matter of litigation.
He said if the PDP is not restrained by the court, the party would be violating its constitution, and by implication denying him the opportunity to contest for the position of the national chairman of the party of which he is eminently qualified to contest.
“The plaintiff/applicant has established a prima facie legal interest in the subject matter of litigation entitling him to the grant of the interim preservative relief sought,” he said.
Lamido said where an action sought to be restrained had already been completed, the equitable remedy of interim injunction may no longer be available to him, “hence why this application is necessary at this stage.”
According to him, the plaintiff’s suit raises a serious triable issue.
He also averred that balance of convenience is in favour of the grant of the interim preservative reliefs sought.
The case, which was the only one on Friday’s cause list, was heard in the judge’s chamber.
After Njikonye moves the motion, the judge said it would be necessary to hear from the parties.
“The court has carefully perused and painstakingly considered the motion ex-parte, the affidavits, exhibits and the written address, including the decided cases commended to the court by learned senior advocate.
“I have equally advised myself on the issues raised in the originating summons which of cause raises triable issues,” he said.
Justice Lifu said that the court was not also unmindful of the balance of convenience and the undertaking as to damages as held in the three cases cited.
“I have also averted my mind to Order 26 Rules, 8(c) of the Rules of this court and the need fo exercise my discretion judicially and judiciously.
“Consequently, considering the entire gamut of the entire suit, it is my considered view that Order 26 rule 8(c) of the 2019 Rules of this court be invoked to enable this court balance the scale and equities of the parties.
“In that wise, the respondents in this suit are herein ordered to show cause within the next 72 hours effective from the date and time of service of this order on them why the prayers of the applicant should not be so granted,” the judge ruled.
The former Jigawa governor had dragged PDP to court over claim that he that he was “unlawfully and illegally denied” access to the nomination form required to contest for the position of PDP national chairman at national convention of the party scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Lamido also said the PDP violated the provisions of its constitution and internal guidelines, which guarantee equal opportunity for all eligible members to participate in internal elections by denying him the opportunity of obtaining the form.
He claimed that the convention’s planning process had excluded key stakeholders and failed to adhere to the party’s constitutional requirements.
“The party failed to create equal opportunities for qualified aspirants, including myself, to contest for elective offices at the national convention,” he stated in his affidavit.
The former Jigawa governor added that that the refusal to allow him to procure the nomination form amounted to a breach of natural justice.
He, therefore, asked the court to issue a mandatory injunction compelling the PDP to issue him a nomination form for the position of national chairman before any convention can hold.
The former governor also urged the court to stop INEC from supervising, aiding, or recognizing any convention conducted without his participation, warning that doing so would give illegal legitimacy to an otherwise unconstitutional process.
Persecondnews recalls that Lamido had arrived at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Monday morning, October 27, but was reportedly blocked from obtaining the form.
Lamido had earlier declared his intention to contest the position in a post on his verified Facebook page, announcing that he would visit Wadata Plaza on Monday morning to obtain the nomination form.
His move comes amid growing tension within the PDP ahead of the national convention, where new members of the National Working Committee (NWC) are expected to be elected.
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