A High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has granted an order stopping the conduct of the Local Government and State Congresses of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State.
Justice Bamidele Omotoso gave the order while ruling on Motion Exparte Number HAD/424M/2025 filed on May 6, 2025, by Afolabi Adedeji.
The suit was filed against the PDP, the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun, National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; Caretaker Chairman of the party in Ekiti state, Dare Adeleke, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Local Government Congress of the party, slated for Wednesday, May 7, was already ongoing in some local councils before the news filtered in that the court had stopped the exercise.
While ordering that all parties to the suit should maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice, the Court also ordered that the PDP Acting National Chairman, National Organising Secretary and Ekiti State Caretaker Chairman should be served the court order through their WhatsApp numbers.
“Leave is hereby granted to the claimant/applicant to serve the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants the Originating Process with its accompanying processes by substituted means, by pasting the aforementioned originating process on the wall of the 1st defendant’s office situate at Ajilosun Street, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State,” Omotosho said.
“In addition, the claimant/applicant is granted leave to serve the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants vide their WhatsApp phone numbers 08047677070, 08035961850 and 08033242822 respectively.
“All parties in this case are hereby ordered to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice which is hereby fixed for hearing on Wednesday, the 14th day of May, 2025.”
The plaintiff, Afolabi Adedeji, had sought an order of interim injunction, retraining the defendants by themselves, privies, agents and successor-in-title/office, from accepting any list of persons who did not obtain election forms, participate in the elections and elected by the simple majority votes of the ward congress of the PDP in Ekiti State to act for the party, as delegates at any election of the party apart from those elected on March 15, 2025.
He also sought an order of the court to mark the Originating Summons as concurrent, and to issue and serve, the Originating Summons, and other accompany originating processes, and all other processes in the case on the first, second, third and fifth defendants, whose address is outside the jurisdiction of the court and in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Meanwhile, the PDP Caretaker Committee (CTC) in Ekiti State has expressed its gratitude to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) for ensuring the successful conduct of the Ekiti State PDP Local Government Congress, which took place in the state capital on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Chairman of the CTC, Dare Adeleke, in a statement, extended his sincere appreciation to the Electoral Panel, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Civil Defence for their support in ensuring a hitch-free congress.
Adeleke commended the committee led by Dr. Eddy Olafeso for their outstanding efforts.
“I cannot express my appreciation enough for the marvelous job done by the committee led by the tireless and indefatigable Dr. Eddy Olafeso. Today’s peaceful outing shows how organized and dedicated the committee was in preparing for this congress,” Adeleke said.
“We are thrilled that the congress commenced and concluded smoothly, without any hitches. It is on record that we started ahead of schedule at 8:00 a.m., and by 12 noon, we had concluded.”
