The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was yet to receive the Federal High Court, Abuja judgment on the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for Wednesday in Port Harcourt. This is contained in a message from the INEC Deputy Director on Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Nick Dazang, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Dazang said that INEC would come up with its position on motoring of the convention, adding that its staff were on standby for further directive.
“Even though the commission has been served the Port Harcourt High Court judgment, it is yet to be served the Abuja High Court judgment by Justice Abang.
“ As soon as it (the Commission) is served the Abuja High Court judgment, it will take a decision.
“In the meantime, and following the Port Harcourt judgment, our monitoring staff are on standby,’’ Dazang said.
NAN recalls that the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Monday barred the PDP from holding its planned National Convention on Aug. 17, in Port Harcourt, pending hearing and determination of the substantive suit filed by Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff.
Justice Ibrahim Watila of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had on Monday ordered that the party’s National Caretaker Committee should proceed with the convention in Port Harcourt as scheduled.
Watila also ordered that NEC and security agencies should monitor the convention.
But in contrast, Justice Okon Abang also barred the PDP from presenting and electing candidates as National Officers of the party.
The court gave the verdict in a motion on notice filed by the factional National Chairman of the party, Sen. Ali Modu Sherriff, against the convention
Abang had also on Monday granted an interim order suspending preparations and holding of the national convention in Port Harcourt, pending the determination of the application filed before him on July 20.
It would also be recalled that Justice Liman Makhmud in Port Harcourt, had on July 4, validated the PDP convention held in Port Harcourt on May 21.(NAN)
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