From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
A Benue State High Court sitting in Gboko on Monday struck out the suit filed by Senator Emmanuel Orker Jev and 16 others, challenging the outcome of the July 31, ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ushongo, Kwande, Konshisha, Buruku, Gboko, and Guma local government areas of Benue State.
Senator Jev, Rt. Hon Terseer Tsumba, Rt. Hon Terngu Tsegba, Hon. David Tsevende, Clement Adzuanogo, and 12 others dragged the PDP, the national chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, the Organising Secretary of PDP, Umar Bature and one other, before a Benue State High Court in Gboko, praying the court to set aside the result of the ward congresses of July 31.
They also prayed for an order directing the defendants to conduct ward congresses in Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Ushongo, Kwande, and Konshisha.
They further prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, and privies from conducting local government and state congresses in Benue State scheduled for the 10th and 31st of August, until the defendants conduct ward congresses in the affected LGAs, amongst other reliefs.
Counsel to the PDP, Umar Damagum, and Umar Bature, Ganiyu Ajape, filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.
Ajape also filed a response to the substantive suit, stating that the party held ward congresses in all 23 LGAs of Benue State on July 31.
Delivering judgement, the presiding judge, Justice Josephine Ayua, agreed with the preliminary objection filed by Ganiyu Ajape that the issues for determination border on the internal affairs of the PDP.
She held that matters bordering on the conduct of ward congresses are purely an internal affair of a political party, and the court cannot dabble into it.
She accordingly struck out the suit for want of jurisdiction.
Reacting to the judgement, an aspirant for the State Secretary of the PDP in Benue State, who is from Konshisha local government, one of the local governments that was mentioned in the suit, Comrade Dan Nyikwagh, described the judgement as sound and a victory for democracy.
He added that with the judgement of the court, the party can now go ahead with its local government congresses in Konshisha, Ushongo, Kwande, Guma, Gboko, and Buruku LGAs.
He commended party members from the six local governments for their patience while the matter was in court.
