by
By Admin
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Abuja Judicial Division had on May 18th, 2020 granted an interim Injunction restraining the PDP Chairman, Cross River State Chapter, Ntufam Edim Inok and his allies from altering or interfering with the list of elected Executives sent by the PDP National Working Committee with reference number PDP/DOM/GF.V/VOL.2/20-387B and signed by the National Organizing Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd.).
The interim injunction/ order was granted by the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Jude O. OKeke.
In the order sighted by THELUMINENEWS, some members of the party (Emma Odidi, Enang Omini Eyong, Michael Kajang Obaji, Asuquo Clement Raymond, Ibembe Ide, Peter Ogar and Dominic Omin) who were successful during the last ward and chapter congresses and emerged winners had dragged the PDP, its National Chairman, Prince Secondus and the Cross River State Chairman, Ntufam Edim Inok Edim before the court, asking the court to restrain the defendants or their privies from interfering or altering the list of the elected ward and chapter executive members of the party in Cross River State.
The restraining court Order reads in part “The Court in exercise of its discretion under Order 43 Rule 2 and 3, being satisfied the application was filed along with Motion on Notice with number M/6887/2020 orders as follows:
1. An interim Order of Injunction is granted restraining the 1st to 3rd Defendants/Respondents and/or privies from interfering or altering the list of elected executive members of the first Respondent in Cross River State containing the names of the Claimants/Applicants pending the hearing and determination of the matter on Notice.
2. This Order shall abate after 7 days from today unless extended by the Court in line with the provision of Order 43 Rule 3(1) to (3) of the Rules of the Court 2018.
3. The case is adjourned to 21/5/2020 for hearing of the claimants/Applicants Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.
4. The Claimants/Applicant’s Originating process, Motion on Notice and Hearing Notices are to be issued and served on the Defendants/Respondents.
Recall that controversy had trailed the outcome of the March 7th and 21st ward and chapter congresses in the 196 wards and 18 local government area of Cross River State. Where two parallel lists were submitted to the National Secretariat of the PDP with one of the lists spearheaded by National Assembly Manners and the other by the State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade.
The National Working Committee NWC, on behalf of the National Executive Committee NEC, of the Party ratified the list that emanated from National Assembly members and forwarded the list to the Chairman, Cross River State Chapter of the Party, Ntufam Edim Inok Edim and directed him to arrange for the inauguration of the executives in a letter signed by the National Organizing Secretary dated 26th April, 2020 No. PDP/DOM/GF.V/VOL/20-378B.
The development which seemed not to have gone down well with the Governor and his supporters saw the emergence of a second list containing the list of the Governor which was however disclaimed by the National Secretariat of the party.
The controversy also led to the audio inauguration of the list recognised by the NWC of the party following the refusal of the CRS Chairman to arrange for the inauguration as directed.
The State Chairman of the party was rumored to have inaugurated his faction of the executives and was alleged to have called the National Working Committee unprintable names, a development which led to his suspension by his ward executive members and sent to the NWC for ratification.
The NWC is yet to ratify the suspension of the State Chairman.
Recall that the NWC had recently extended the tenure of the State Chairman of the party, for a period of three (3) months pending the conduct of the state congress in acting capacity.
