Court voids PDP southwest congress

Oni

…Oni to lose seat as party’s national vice-chairman

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday voided the recently conducted Southwest Zonal Congress of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). 

The congress produced former Ekiti State governor, Segun Oni, as the party’s National Vice- Chairman (South-West).

Justice Okon Abang, in a ruling, set aside the said congress on the ground that it was held in violation of a subsisting order of court, directing parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of suit instituted by the Dayo Soremi -led faction of the party in Ogun State.

The judge  observed that despite the party’s former National vice- chairman, Southwest, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo’s lawyer, Waheed Lawal’s  efforts to ensure that his client take no further steps in respect of the issues raised by the plaintiff,  Oladipo proceeded to conduct the congress and put the plaintiffs in a position of disadvantage.

Justice Abang rebuked Oladipo for conducting the congress despite the court order, describing him as an individual without respect for the due process of law and order. 

 “Any responsible citizen of this country, no matter his position ought to respect the court’s order, particularly when processes and such orders are served on them. They should allow the court to decide the case one way or the other.

“I will not allow anybody, no matter how highly placed, to act in a manner that challenges the majesty of the court and likely to bring the court to disrepute or odium. 

“The conduct of the zonal congress by Alhaji Oladipo, despite a subsisting court order is mischievous,” the court held.

Justice Abang described the action of the party leaders in the southwest as “reckless, disgraceful and highhanded”, noting that it signposts their disdain for the observance of the rule of law.

“Disobedience to court orders is an endemic disease that has eaten deep into the fabric of this country. A court must enforce the law in a manner that will ensure the attainment of social re-engineering,” he said.