…. As Ogbulafor’s kinsman gives reasons for obtaining court injunction against exercise

By Steve Oko

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has announced the postponement of its ward and Local Government Area congresses in Abia and Ebonyi States, which were earlier scheduled for Saturday, July 27.

This is contained in a letter written by the party to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The postponement, according to the letter, jointly signed by the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, was due to operational challenges.

It read in part: “Please refer to our earlier letter on the above subject matter with ref: PDP/DOM/GF.2/VOL.1F/24-069 dated Friday, April 19, 2024, in which we informed the Commission of our timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of our Year 2024 planned congresses in 24 (twenty-four) state chapters of our party. 

“Due to operational challenges, we are compelled to postpone the congresses in Abia and Ebonyi States. 

“We will notify the Commission once new dates are fixed for these aforementioned states. 

“What this means invariably is that ward, LGA and state congresses will not hold in these states as earlier scheduled. Please note for implementation purposes. 

“We will continue to update the Commission on this issue. While thanking you for your usual cooperation, kindly acknowledge the receipt of this letter. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”

Meanwhile, Chief Francis Etizu, PDP Chairman, Ward 1, Ahikwu Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area, has given reasons he obtained court injunction to stop the proposed congresses.

Etuzu, along with two other claimants, Chidindu Kalu Kalu and Enyinnaya Ogbu, had gone to Abia High Court to obtain an injunction restraining PDP from conducting the congress.

The order was granted by Justice C.U. Okoroafor of the Bende Judicial Division of the Abia State High Court on July 23, 2024.

The Court order read in part: “That the defendants, either by themselves, their representatives, servants, agents, assigns, or howsoever called, are hereby restrained from holding or carrying on the People’s Democratic Party’s Congress in Abia State on July 27, 2024, or to reschedule it to be held on any other date or location pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filled.

“The defendants, by themselves, their representatives, servants, agents, assigns, or however called, are hereby restrained from taking any decision or giving any directive to further extend the already expired tenure of the last state, Local Government and ward executive officers of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed. 

The Court also ordered that the case be adjourned and the matter heard on the 30th day of July 2024, for a report of service.”

Meanwhile, the State Working Committee of the PDP, in a statement by the party’s Acting Publicity Secretary, Elder Abraham Amah, said the claimants were no longer members of PDP, vowing to activate mechanisms to quash the ‘unholy’ court orders.

The statement read: “leadership of the Abia PDP wishes to inform all stakeholders and members that the State Working Committee, SWC, convened an emergency meeting to address the recent restraining order obtained by certain individuals who had previously resigned from the party prior to the 2023 general elections.

“During this critical meeting, we unanimously agreed to activate our legal department to take appropriate and decisive actions against this unjust restraining order.”

Etuzu, who hails from the ward of the late PDP National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, said impunity and disregard for internal democracy compelled him and the other claimants to go to court to halt the proposed congresses.

He denied claims by the state leadership of the party that he was sacked from the party, insisting that he is still a bona fide member of the party, and would never leave the party.

“I decided never to leave PDP because Chief Ogbulafor, who brought PDP to Abia State, told me before he died, not to allow the party die in our area. So, I won’t leave PDP.”

He alleged that he was sidelined by the leadership of the party in his council, who handed over the party register and membership cards for the ward to another person instead of him as the party Chairman.

“I’m the Ward 1 Chairman, but I don’t know what is going on in the party. The enemies of Chief Vin Ogbulafor are trying to victimise me without considering the interests of the party.

Etuzu further alleged that some individuals were trying to hijack the party structure and impose their puppets on the party.

He vowed to resist impunity and injustice, regretting that efforts to get the attention of the party leadership to address the matter failed, hence his decision to seek redress in court.

Etuzu said that the national leadership of PDP should set up a Caretaker Committee to oversee the affairs of the party in the state pending the conduct of fresh congresses after the expiration of the current tenure on July 27.