By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Abuja
Justice Elvis Chukwu of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, Friday, fixed September 30 to continue hearing on a suit seeking to stop the Alhaji Kawu Baraje led faction of the PDP, from operating in Nigeria.

At the resumed sitting on the case which was instituted by the Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and 11 other national officers of the party, Justice Chukwu directed all the parties to appear before the court on the next adjourned date to adopt their final written addresses to enable the court to enter judgment on the matter.

Baraje and Tukur

Apart from Baraje, others listed as respondents in the suit included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, National Secretary of the splinter group otherwise known as the ‘New PDP’, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and its National Deputy Chairman, Dr Sam Jaja.

Also joined as a respondent in the suit was the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Though the court had earlier slated yesterday for the warring factions to exchange and adopt their legal arguments, however, owing to the inability of the Tukur’s faction to respond to a preliminary objection against the suit by the Baraje group, Justice Chukwu said it would be in the interest of justice to give all the parties ample time to ventilate their differences.

Counsel to Baraje, Chief Ahmed Raji, SAN, that of Jaja, Robert Clarke, SAN, and Oyinlola’s lawyer, Mr E. R. Enukpoeuo, told the court that they were only served with the plaintiffs response on Thursday, and needed time to study the documents so as to react appropriately.

Consequently, they sought for an adjournment, which was not opposed by counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Tochukwu Onwubufor, SAN.

Specifically, the plaintiffs are praying the court to restrain INEC from recognizing, dealing and relating with the Baraje led faction as the national officers of the party, or operating and opening a parallel national, state, local government area and ward offices of the party pending the determination of the suit.

However, the respondents have since asked the court to dismiss the suit as it is not only lacking in merit but  bothers on a domestic affair of a political party.