The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has shifted till May 10 the hearing of a suit seeking to stop the scheduled May 28 Presidential Primary Election of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Justice Donatus Okorowo shifted the hearing of the case following complaints by the plaintiff counsel, Paul Erokoro who informed the court that the affidavit from PDP to show cause on why the primary should not be stopped was served on him late on Wednesday.
Although, the suit was slated for hearing on Thursday but Erokoro told the judge that he needed time to respond to the reasons adduced by PDP against the suit. He pleaded with the Judge to give him time by way of adjournment to enable him respond to the affidavit.
Counsel to PDP, Mahmud Magaji did not object to the request for adjournment. Justice Okorowo subsequently shifted hearing till May 10 and ordered parties in the case to file and exchange their processes before the next adjourned date.
A presidential aspirant and former Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Cosmas Ndukwe, had on April 28 brought an ex-parte application for an order of injunction restraining the PDP from going ahead with its scheduled primary election pending the hearing and determination of his suit challenging the position of the party on the issue of zoning the party’s presidential ticket.
However, rather than granting the request of Ndukwe, the judge ordered that the PDP should appear before it on May 5 and show cause why the court should not grant the plaintiff’s demand.
