Judgment in the suit filed by former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, challenging his exclusion from contesting the national chairmanship position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was on Thursday stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Peter Lifu, who was expected to deliver the verdict, could not sit as scheduled. Instead, the court registrar informed counsel and parties, including Lamido himself, that the judgment was “not ready,” adding that a new date would be communicated in due course.
The development comes two days after Justice Lifu restrained the PDP from proceeding with its planned national convention pending the determination of the substantive suit.
In the Tuesday ruling, the court also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring, supervising, or recognising any outcome of the planned convention.
Justice Lifu held that Lamido’s application was meritorious, saying evidence before the court showed that the PDP failed to publish the timetable for the convention as required by law.
“The balance of convenience tilts in favour of the applicant,” the judge ruled, stressing that Lamido would suffer irreparable harm if unlawfully excluded from the race.
Earlier on Tuesday, counsel for Lamido, Jeph Njikonye, SAN; PDP’s lawyer, Omokayode Dada, SAN; Joseph Daudu, SAN, representing the joined parties; and INEC’s counsel all adopted their written addresses and presented arguments for and against the suit.
After the adoption, Justice Lifu fixed November 13 for judgment, the same judgment that was stalled today.
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