State High Court Restrains Party from Conducting Congress

The Nasarawa State High Court in Doma has issued a restraining order preventing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Working Committee from conducting any further congress.

Justice Abdullahi Hassan Shams Shammah gave the ruling after an application was filed by the counsel to the complainants, Ishaka Mudi Dikko SAN.

In his presentation, Ishaka Mudi Dikko, SAN, argued that the restraining order was necessary due to the PDP’s plans to hold local government congresses on the 12th of this month and also requested that the court nullify the earlier ward congress conducted by the party.

Counsels for the first, second, and third respondents, Olegede Ucha and Jacob Nzamanah, contended that they had already filed a preliminary objection concerning the court’s jurisdiction and insisted that no decisions could be made until the matter was resolved.

They noted that upon receiving the certified true copy of the process, they recognized that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case, prompting their reluctance to address the issue of service.

In response, Ishaka Mudi Dikko emphasized that during the previous hearing, the court had directed all parties to clarify whether proper service had been made on the defendants saying they are misconceiving the position of the law regarding preliminary objection.

Delivering the ruling on the matter, Justice Abdullahi Hassan Shams Shammah acknowledged the importance of the jurisdiction issue but ruled that the question of service must be addressed first before considering the preliminary objection.

Following the ruling, counsel for the respondents Jacob Nzamanah and Olegede Ucha, requested an adjournment to resolve all outstanding issues, an application that was opposed by Ishaka Mudi Dikko arguing that it was intended to waste the time of the court.

The presiding judge subsequently adjourned the case until October 23, of this month, while ordering all parties to maintain the status quo and refrain from interfering with the subject matter at hand.