The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced plans to appeal a ruling by the Abia State High Court in Bende, which on Thursday nullified its 2024 ward and local government congresses in the state.
Justice C.U. Okorafor, who presided over the case, also set aside the party’s councillorship and chairmanship primaries conducted for the November 2, 2024, local government elections. The ruling followed a suit filed by a PDP chieftain, Enyinnaya Ogbu.
In the suit marked HB/5/2024, Ogbu argued that the processes through which candidates were selected violated existing court orders. The defendants included the PDP, its national leadership, state officials such as Allwel Asiforo Okereke and Kenneth Madubuike, as well as the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC).
The claimant referenced a prior case — Suit No: HB/3/2024 (Francis Etuzu & 2 Ors. v. PDP & 4 Ors) — as evidence that the party acted in defiance of earlier court injunctions.
Justice Okorafor, in his judgment, upheld all the reliefs sought by Ogbu, effectively voiding the entire nomination process for the upcoming local elections.
Reacting to the verdict, the claimant’s lawyer, O.O. Amuzie, described the ruling as “a triumph for democracy, justice, and equity.”
However, counsel to the PDP, Ukpai Ukairo, stated that the party would appeal the judgment after consulting with relevant party structures. He also revealed plans to file a stay of execution.
Ukairo argued that the congresses in question are internal party matters and therefore beyond the jurisdiction of the courts.
“We are confident of securing a favourable judgment at the Court of Appeal,” he said.
The ruling has stirred political uncertainty in Abia, raising questions about the fate of PDP candidates ahead of the local government polls.
