About 83 aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State have sued the party’s state Chairman, Austin Nwachukwu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others for alleged exclusion and what they termed illegalities in the party’s state Congress.
In a lawsuit submitted to the Federal High Court in Owerri, the aggrieved members are aiming to remove Nwachukwu and other senior officials of the party.
Headed by Lambert Eze, the complainants accuse the party of breaching both the Electoral Act of 2022 and its own constitution by purportedly excluding legitimately elected delegates from the Ideato North and South local government areas during the state congress held on August 31, 2024, which resulted in the election of Nwachukwu and other state executive members. The plaintiffs, however, maintain that this action was “unlawful, null, and void.”
Additionally, the PDP national body and ten other individuals have joined the lawsuit, which includes caretaker leaders of the party from the Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas, namely Hon. Chris Ozoemenam and Hon. Dr. Sylvester Durukwuaku.
The plaintiffs are requesting that the court annul the congress, prevent the current officials from presenting themselves as executives, and mandate a new congress that is conducted democratically and includes all eligible delegates.
This case, designated as FHC/OW/CS/51/2025, was submitted through their attorney, K.U. Alisigwe of Ononaku Chambers, located in Owerri.
