The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered all parties in the suit seeking to halt the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) planned national convention to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case.

Naijaonpoint reports that the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, issued the directive on Thursday, warning that no party should take any action that might “jeopardise or render the subject matter of the litigation nugatory.”

The order followed a complaint by one of PDP’s lawyers, Chris Uche (SAN), who argued that the party was being held back by the suit and urged the court for an accelerated hearing.

Justice Omotosho assured that judgment on the matter would be delivered before the end of October, stressing that he would not tolerate delay tactics.

The judge stated, “You and I, as lawyers and ministers in the temple of justice, know that once a suit is filed and parties have been served with processes, it is the law that no party should take any step in respect of such suit.

“The court must not be over-reached, and where such is done, the court has the power to nullify such acts. Let us respect the law. It is in our collective interest.”

Reiterating his commitment to a speedy process, Justice Omotosho said, “I can assure you that the court’s decision will be made between now and the end of October. On the day of judgment, parties will be given copies. I type my own judgments myself, so there will be no issue of delay.”

The judge subsequently fixed Monday for a definite hearing of the suit after confirming that all parties had been properly served with court processes.

The case was brought before the court by three aggrieved PDP officials, Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah George (PDP South-South Secretary).

The plaintiffs are seeking to stop the party’s national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers are expected to be elected.

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