An Abuja High  Court, has struck out a  suit seeking to declare the zoning policy of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom State as unconstitutional.
Trial judge, Justice A.  Umar, in his ruling, declined jurisdiction on the ground that his court lacked the territorial integrity to hear the case.

The judge ruled on a preliminary objection by the party against the suit.
Justice Umar upheld the argument by the respondent that the suit ought to be instituted in Akwa Ibom and not Abuja.

Plaintiff in the case, Mr. Leo Ekpenyong, was also accused of not exploring internal reconciliation within the party.
According to the court, there was no evidence that Leo, who claimed to be an aspirant, would be affected by the zoning of the party in the state.

“The Akwa Ibom State PDP did not create the policy. It was a creation of the national PDP, which its state branches have adopted,” the court said.

The plaintiff had contended in the suit   that the policy contained in the PDP’s constitution was not only discriminatory but negates the constitutional provision for the right of every citizen to contest election without being discriminated against regardless of his place of birth.