A former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has asked the Federal High Court to stop the party’s National Chairman Umar Damagum and other national leaders from further acting in their capacities.
Sowumi premised his suit on the party leaders’ alleged violation of PDP’s constitution.
The request forms a major relief in a suit the former aide to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar filed against the PDP national leadership.
In the suit, Sowumi accused the party’s national leadership of hampering its fortune in future elections by failing to hold the mandatory National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to enable its members review the party’s activities, take critical decisions and plan for future elections.
Showumi said since the meeting was last held on September 8, 2022 during the tenure the sacked National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, the new leadership under Damagum had allegedly refused to convene a NEC meeting, despite demands by concerned party members.
According to him, the failure to hold a NEC meeting violates the party’s constitution and is inimical to the progress of the PDP and threatens his fortune and those of other members who plan to contest future elections.
Sowumi prayed the court to, among others, issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining Damagum and other PDP national leaders, including their agents “from functioning or continuing to function or discharge the functions of their offices until they call for or cause to be called and held a meeting of the NEC of the PDP in total fidelity and obeisance to the PDP constitution”.
In the suit filed by his lawyer, Anderson Asemota, the PDP chieftain also prayed the court to order the party’s leadership “to immediately call for or cause to be called and held the meeting of the National Executive Committee of the PDP for the purpose of presenting the activities of the party from the date of the last NEC meeting, which was held on September 8, 2022”.
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He also sought an order directing Damagum and others “to immediately call for or cause to be called and held the meeting of the NEC of the PDP for the purpose of presenting the proposed guidelines and regulations governing the conduct of elections to the party offices at all levels and procedure for selecting party candidates for elective offices to the members of the NEC”.
Listed with Damagum as defendants in the suit are: the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Umar Bature (National Organising Secretary), Okechukwu Daniel (National Auditor), Ahmed Yayari (National Treasurer), Muhammed Kadade (National Youth Leader) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a supporting affidavit, Sowumi stated that since the party participated in the last governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states, the reports of the elections had not been presented to the party, as required.
He also said elections are coming up in Edo and Ondo states, adding that the party should plan and prepare ahead.
Quoting several sections of the PDP constitution, Sowumi noted that the failure of the party’s leadership to hold a NEC meeting was, among others, a breach of his right as a loyal party member.
No date has been fixed to hear the suit.