PDP primaries: Obanikoro’s suit lacks competence, PDP tells court

(NIGERIA) The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, today, challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to entertain the suit that was lodged before it by former Minster of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, challenging the outcome of the governorship primary ‎election it held in Lagos state on December 8.

PDP in a preliminary objection it filed at the high court, queried the competence of the suit, describing it as a classical example of an abuse of court process.

It told the court that Obanikoro made criminal allegations including collusion, conspiracy, shootings and scaring of delegates, without adducing sufficient particulars and proof.

The party noted that though the plaintiff made serious allegations against the acclaimed winner of the said primary election, Mr. Jimi Agbaje and its chieftain in Lagos State, Chief Olabode George, he failed to join them as parties in the suit.

“There is no act of the 1st Defendant giving rise to jurisdiction of the Federal High Court pursuant to section 251 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any applicable law whatsoever”, PDP argued.

It contended that the interim order of injunction that Obanikoro is seeking from the court, if granted, would adversely affect millions of members and supporters of the party who were neither made parties nor put on notice with respect to the suit.

“That the 1st defendant (PDP) has till Friday December 26, 2014, to send nominations for governorship candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, failing which it will be shut out from presenting a governorship candidate for Lagos State.

“That the time table of the 2nd Defendant (INEC) for the conclusion of gubernatorial candidates nominations for all political parties in Nigeria has been set out several months ago, which cannot be altered in the overriding interest of the country”, PDP added.

The party said it duly complied with its Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections 2014 in the conduct of the Lagos state primaries, “there was no over voting during the said gubernatorial primaries.

(REPORT FROM VANGUARD)