The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has dragged the Accord Party, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and fourteen others before a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt over alleged non- compliance to the new Electoral Act in the conduct of their just concluded party primary elections.
The PDP is asking the court to compel INEC not to recognize all candidates of the Accord Party for National Assembly positions for allegedly violating the new electoral act.
When the matter came up for mention, Counsel to PDP, Dike Udenna asked the court for more time to enable him respond to preliminary objections raised by counsel to Accord Party, Abdulameed Mohammed (SAN).
Presiding Judge, Justice Stephen Daylop-Pam after listening to the counsels adjourned the matter to July 29, 2022 for hearing.
Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, Counsel to Accord Party, Abdulameed Mohammed after narrating what transpired in court, explained the reasons for filing the motion for preliminary objection to the suit by PDP.
Mohammed said the suit arose from primary election which was conducted by consensus and then a political party known as PDP decided to come to court to challenge the primary elections of another party (Accord Party).
He explained that the primary elections of Accord Party was conducted on 28 May, 2022 and PDP waited till July 7, 2022 before coming to court to challenge the primary elections saying that INEC should not accept names of candidates forwarded to the commission.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said his clients filed notice of preliminary objection, adding that the PDP ought to be in court within 14 days and since they were not in court, the matter is statute-barred.
On his part, Counsel to PDP, Dike Udenna in an interview with Journalists said they are in court because Accord Party did not comply with requirements of electoral act in nomination of their candidates.
