The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State has asked a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, to stop the planned dissolution of its State Executive Committee by the national leadership of the party.
The case came up before Justice S.C Oriji on Monday.
But it was adjourned till November 6, when the national leadership of the party, through its lawyer, Mr. C.I Paul, told the court that there were ongoing efforts to settle the case out of court.
Justice Oriji said the matter could go on for hearing or report of settlement on the said adjourned date depending on the outcome of the settlement talks.
The plan to dissolve the party’s State EXCO was said to have been hatched during a meeting held on September 30, 2014, in Abuja at the official residence of the Senate President, David Mark, who is the Chairman of the party’s Reconciliation and Integration Committee.
The decision was said to have been reached to pave the way for the re-constitution of the party’s State EXCO in order to cede 50 per cent its membership to the loyalists of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who newly defected from the Labour Party to the PDP.
But the six plaintiffs, who are members of the State EXCO, had on October 2, filed their suit, asking the court to restrain the Mark-led committee and the Independent National Electoral Committee from implementing the said recommendation.
Through their lawyer, Mr. Abdul Ibrahim, they argued that having been elected on March 17, 2012 to serve a four-year term, the dissolution of the EXCO would amount to an infraction of their rights.
The plaintiffs include the State Chairman of the party in the state, Omotayo Alabi, the Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Fatai Adams, and the Secretary, Chief Oyedele Ibine.
Others are three chairmen of the party at the local government level in the state – Bitire Solomon (Okitipupa); Kehinde Lawal (Owo) and Lawrence Fagbolajun (Ifedore).
The case came up before Justice S.C Oriji on Monday.
But it was adjourned till November 6, when the national leadership of the party, through its lawyer, Mr. C.I Paul, told the court that there were ongoing efforts to settle the case out of court.
Justice Oriji said the matter could go on for hearing or report of settlement on the said adjourned date depending on the outcome of the settlement talks.
The plan to dissolve the party’s State EXCO was said to have been hatched during a meeting held on September 30, 2014, in Abuja at the official residence of the Senate President, David Mark, who is the Chairman of the party’s Reconciliation and Integration Committee.
The decision was said to have been reached to pave the way for the re-constitution of the party’s State EXCO in order to cede 50 per cent its membership to the loyalists of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who newly defected from the Labour Party to the PDP.
But the six plaintiffs, who are members of the State EXCO, had on October 2, filed their suit, asking the court to restrain the Mark-led committee and the Independent National Electoral Committee from implementing the said recommendation.
Through their lawyer, Mr. Abdul Ibrahim, they argued that having been elected on March 17, 2012 to serve a four-year term, the dissolution of the EXCO would amount to an infraction of their rights.
The plaintiffs include the State Chairman of the party in the state, Omotayo Alabi, the Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Fatai Adams, and the Secretary, Chief Oyedele Ibine.
Others are three chairmen of the party at the local government level in the state – Bitire Solomon (Okitipupa); Kehinde Lawal (Owo) and Lawrence Fagbolajun (Ifedore).
