The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in response to allegations of irregularities, has decided to suspend the three ad-hoc delegate congresses scheduled to take place in the 239 wards of Kogi State.
Naija News reports that this decision was confirmed in an official letter dated July 27, 2024, that was signed by the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the party, Senator Laah Dajuma.
The letter, which was addressed to the Residents Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Lokoja, Kogi State, reads in part, “Sequel to our earlier notification to you for the conduct of the 3 Ad-hoc delegates in Kogi state, we write to bring to your attention a grave anomaly that occurred before the exercise in the state by one Rt. Hon. Dr. Boyelayefa Dabekeme.
“Today being the 27 of July 2024, the officiating officers deployed to conduct the exercise arrived with impersonators purported to be the returning officers drawn from Nasarawa State, FCT, Imo and Kano State, respectively.
“This development compromised the integrity of the congress and, therefore, rendered the entire process null and void. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. You will be notified of the new date as soon as we conclude the process.”
Rivers: PDP Defiles Court Orders, Holds Ward Congress
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reportedly conducted ward congresses across various wards in Rivers State recently.
This comes amid multiple court orders aimed at halting the exercise.
On Friday, Justice Charles Wali prohibited the PDP, along with its National Chairman, Iliya Damagum, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, from holding ward, local government, and state congresses until the court hears and determines the suit before it.
The suit, filed by PDP members from each of the 23 Local Government Areas, challenges the conduct of the congresses.
Furthermore, Justice Sobere Biambo had previously issued an interim order suspending the PDP congresses scheduled for July 27, in response to a suit filed by David Omereji and others against the party’s national leadership.
The judge directed law enforcement agencies, including the Inspector General of Police, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to ensure compliance with the order.
Despite these orders, activities at the PDP Secretariat along Aba Road in Port Harcourt were observed, with various party members collecting materials for the congress in their respective wards and subsequently heading to their various councils.
Contrarily, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, issued a counter-order permitting the PDP to proceed with its congresses.
This ruling barred the DSS, police, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and seven other entities from disrupting the congresses.
Naija News understands that there are conflicting legal orders regarding the PDP congresses in Rivers State: two from the state High Court halting the congresses and one from the Federal High Court allowing them to proceed.
The congresses, scheduled to start on July 27 with ward congresses, will be followed by local government congresses on August 26 and state congresses in September.
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