PDP, Sunday Udeh-Okoye Seek To Join Samuel Anyanwu’s Suit Against INEC Over Party Leadership

Anyanwu had, on February 19 in the fresh suit, sued INEC and the PDP’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged plan to remove him as party’s national secretary.

Justice Ekwo had, in a ruling on Anyanwu’s motion ex-parte moved by his lawyer, Ken Njemanze, declined to grant the prayers but rather, ordered him to put the defendants on notice to show cause in the next adjourned date why his prayers should not be granted.

The judge then adjourned until February 24 for defendants to show cause.

When the matter was called, yesterday, Njemanze informed the court that the matter was slated for the defendants to show cause.

He further told the court that INEC and Damagun, who are 1st and 2nd defendants, had been duly served with the court processes in compliance with order or court.

Although INEC was represented by Ahmed Mohammed, no lawyer appeared for Damagun.

Justice Ekwo then asked Mohammed if they had filed their response to Anyanwu’s suit and he said a counter affidavit was filed on February 21.

The judge further asked Mohammed if the process he claimed they filed was to show cause why Anyanwu’s prayers should not be granted and he responded in the negative.

However, Paul Erokoro, and Paul-Harris Ogbole, announced appearance for parties seeking to be joined in the suit.

While Erokoro announced appearance for Udeh-Okoye, Ogbole represented PDP as parties seeking to be joined.

Both lawyers informed the court that their processes were equally filed and served on the plaintiff on February 21.

Njemanze acknowledged the receipt of all the processes from INEC and parties seeking to be joined.

The lawyer, however, said they were still within time to respond to all the applications.

Speaking, Erokoro said presently, there was an application at the Supreme Court seeking for a stay of execution.

When Erokoro was trying to make further submission on the instant suit before the court, Justice Ekwo said: “We have not gotten there.”

The judge said it was the more reason the prayers of the parties seeking to be joined ought to be granted as quickly as possible in order to decide the case once and for all.

Justuce Ekwo then read out parts of the order made in the last adjourned date to INEC lawyer for him to do the needful.

“INEC, you have not shown any cause today. Have you seen those prayers, you will not do anything contrary to those prayers until further order of this court,” he said.

The judge then ordered all the parties to file their necessary applications and their responses, including the PDP and Udeh-Okoye before the next adjourned date