Court halts Anambra PDP congress
From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka
THERE may be no end yet to the crisis rocking the Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a court yesterday halted the party's congress which was in progress.
Confirming this to reporters, the Acting State chairman of the PDP, Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, said he was served with a "court process" and has decided to suspend all activities relating to the issues pending before the court until further notice.
His words: "Yesterday, at about 4 p.m., I was served with certain court process which included a writ of summons challenging the composition of the state executive committee and two interlocutory applications for injunction aimed at restraining the functions fixed for today.
"After due consultation with the national leadership of our party, we have decided, out of respect for the due process of law and in order not to take steps which would ridicule or stultify the effectual determination of the claims pending before the High Court, to suspend all activities relating to the issues pending before the court until further notice," he added.
He also maintained: "No injunction of court restraining the events of today was granted by any court nor was any served on me. However, the High Court before which the said injunctive applications are pending had ordered that the process be served on me and the party immediately."
The party chief added that members of the party were at the congress for the appointment of a substantive state chairman in accordance with the provisions of Article 18(4) of the PDP constitution and pursuant to the directives of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
But the Senior Special Adviser on Publicity to the governor, Fred Chukwuelobe, confirmed that there was an injunction restraining the appointment of the state party chairman, adding that the court injunction was obtained a day before the congress.
A source close to the party executive said those behind the two interlocutory injunctions include former Financial Secretary of the party, Chief Ogugua Nwosu, a former PDP women leader and another unnamed person who felt marginalised by the party's executive.
According to Obi-Okoye, hearing on the two interlocutory injunctions has been fixed for July 6, 2004.
The PDP NWC disbanded the caretaker committee while restraining the Obi-Okoye leadership as state chairman.
The committee further directed the state wing to appoint a substantive chairman, stressing that Obi-Okoye should revert to his former position as the state deputy chairman of the party.
