PDP Convention: Court Warns Parties Against Breaching Status Quo Order

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has re-affirmed that his order on maintaining status quo in the suit filed against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention remained in force and must not be flouted by any of the parties involved.

The court insisted that no party must take any step that will jeopardise or render the decision of his court nugatory and warned that he would be forced to make consequential order against any party that resort to self help.

The remarks of the judge followed the complaint by one of the lawyers to the PDP, Chris Uche, SAN, that his client was being held back by the status quo order and applied for speedy hearing of the suit.

During the court proceedings on Thursday, the presiding judge said that his court would do everything possible to deliver judgement in the suit between now and end of October for the respective parties to know their fate.

He warned that no party would be allowed to use any ploy to delay speedy hearing of the suit challenging the legality or otherwise of the planned national convention of the PDP scheduled for November 15 and 16, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

“You and I as Lawyers and Ministers in the Temple of Justice know that once a suit is filed in respect of any matter and parties have been served with processes, it is the law that no party should take any step in respect of such suit.

“The court must not be over-reached and where such is done, the court has power to issue consequential order, nullifying such act. We all know the law, and please, let us respect the law. It is in our collective interest.

“In the instant case, I can assure you that the court decision will be made between now and end of October. On the day of the judgement, parties will be given copies of the judgement. I type my own judgements by myself, so there will be no issue of any delay,” the Judge said.

Meanwhile, the judge has fixed Monday, October 20 for a definite hearing of the originating summons in respect of the suit instituted against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and eight others by three aggrieved members of the PDP.