NIGERIA (POLITICS) - COURT ORDERS RESTRAINT ON FAYOSE'S PDP EXCO

The judicial hammer fell yesterday on the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to Governor Ayo Fayose as a Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, restrained the Gboyega Oguntuase-led State Working Committee (SWC) backed by Fayose from parading themselves as party executives.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo gave the order after hearing an Ex-Parte Motion brought by a faction led by Williams Ajayi believed to be loyal to Senator Buruji Kashamu.

Plaintiffs/Applicants in the suit are Ajayi and Secretary, Ilesanmi Obe while Defendants/Respondents are Independent National Electoral Commission (1st), PDP (2nd), National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff (3rd), National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo (4th) and Oguntuase (5th).

Ajayi and Obe were suing for themselves and on behalf of the PDP Executive Committee in Ekiti State.

The two factions in Ekiti conducted parallel congresses last week and both are laying claims to legitimacy before the battle shifted to the court.

The Ajayi-led exco maintained that the state congress which produced the Oguntuase-led exco violated the PDP constitution and guidelines set for the conduct of congresses and convention of the party.

Justice Taiwo gave the order after listening to counsel to the plaintiffs, Niran Owoseni, who moved the Motion Ex-Parte.

The court granted eight orders of interim injunction against the Fayose-backed faction pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.

The court issued an order of interim injunction restraining the 5th defendant (Oguntuase) and other persons claiming to have emerged from a parallel congress conducted in Ekiti State at ward, local government and state levels except those conducted in ine with the constitution and guidelines of the 2nd defendant.

An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant (INEC) from recognizing any step or action whatsoever taken including meetings, congresses, or primaries by the 2nd defendant, its National Executive

Committee and national officers without the plaintiffs’ approval pending the hearing of Motion on Notice.

The court further restrained 1st to 4th defendants from giving any recognition to the 5th defendants and other persons elected at the parallel congress that produced them

The court equally gave an order directing the 2nd defendant by its organs, officers, servants and agents including the 3rd and 4th defendant to accept for the purpose of convening National Convention of the party only delegates elected at congresses conducted in Line with the constitution and guidelines of the party as listed in the result sheet and report exhibited to the affidavit in support of the originating Summons pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

The court further ruled that the PDP national secretariat and Ekiti state secretariat be served by means of substituted service the copies of the order issued.

The Deputy Chairman of the Ajayi-led faction, Olasunkanmi Ogunbiyi described the court decision as a victory for the rule of law which he noted would curb impunity in the party.

The Publicity Secretary for the Oguntuase-led faction, Jackson Adebayo did not respond to calls sent to his phone which was later switched off.

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