PDP interrupts delegate congress in Kogi

In response to allegations of irregularities, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decided to suspend the three ad hoc delegate congresses scheduled to hold in the 239 local government areas of Kogi State.

Naija News reports that this decision was confirmed in an official letter dated July 27, 2024, signed by the chairman of the party’s transition committee. Senator Laah Dajuma.

The letter, addressed to the Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Lokoja in Kogi State, states, among other things: “In continuation of our earlier communication to you on the conduct of the three ad hoc delegates in Kogi State, we are writing to draw your attention to a serious anomaly that occurred prior to the exercise in the state by one Rt. Hon. Dr. Boyelayefa Dabekeme.

“Today, July 27, 2024, the arbitrators sent to conduct the exercise arrived with impersonators purported to be returning officers from Nasarawa, FCT, Imo and Kano states.

“This development has compromised the integrity of Congress and rendered the entire process null and void. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. You will be notified of the new date once we have completed the process.”

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reportedly held district congresses in several counties of Rivers State recently.

This comes in the wake of several court rulings aimed at stopping this measure.

On Friday, Justice Charles Wali barred the PDP, its national chairman Iliya Damagum and its national secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu from holding district, local and state congresses until the court hears and decides the case before it.

The lawsuit, filed by PDP members from each of the 23 local government areas, is directed against the conduct of the congresses.

In addition, Justice Sobere Biambo had earlier issued an injunction suspending the PDP’s congress scheduled for July 27 in response to a lawsuit filed by David Omereji and others against the party’s national leadership.

The judge directed law enforcement agencies, including the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police of Rivers State, the Director General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to ensure compliance with the order.

Despite these orders, activities were observed at the PDP Secretariat on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, where various party members collected materials for the congress in their respective wards and then proceeded to their respective councils.

In contrast, a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Peter Lifu issued a counter order allowing the PDP to hold its congresses.

This ruling prohibited the DSS, the police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and seven other agencies from disrupting the congresses.

Naija News is aware that there are conflicting court rulings regarding the PDP congresses in Rivers State: two from the state Supreme Court prohibiting the congresses, one from the Federal Supreme Court allowing them to take place.

The conventions are scheduled to begin with district conventions on July 27, followed by municipal conventions on August 26 and state conventions in September.