By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—AGGRIEVED members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State have approached the High Court in Benin, challenging the continued stay in office of the state chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih and other leaders of the party across the 18 local government areas, claiming that their tenure expired since September 2015.

DAN ORBIH

Led by one Mr. Osula Ehi, from ward 12 Oredo, they prayed the court in suit number B/12/02/16, to restrain the PDP chairman and others from parading themselves as lawful occupants of the offices, and called on the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to set up a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party until fresh congresses were held.

The suit filed by counsel to the claimants, Matthew Edaghese, alleged that the four years tenure of the State Executive Council, SEC, expired on September 24, 2015, as provided in the party’s constitution, contending that their continued stay in office was illegal and must be addressed.

However, counsel to the defendants, Salman Yidako, told the court, yesterday, that he would respond to the motion of interlocutory injunction and originating summon respectively.

Justice G.O Imadegbelo, who adjourned the case to February 18, 2016, gave the defendants seven days to file a reply to the originating summon and motion of notice to enable the court rule on the matter which requires urgent hearing.