Tukur loses as court rejects bid to stop Baraje-led PDP faction

By Okechukwu Nwokafor

The court fixes September 20 for hearing in the case between the two PDP factions.

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday rejected the request by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Bamanga Tukur to stop the “New” PDP led by Kawu Baraje, from operating.

Justice Elvis Chukwu refused to grant a restraining order against the Baraje faction saying he did not find any fault with the faction in filing its processes and entering its appearance.

The judge said he would hear the suit by the Tukur faction alongside the preliminary objection raised by the Baraje faction.

Mr Tukur had approached the court on Thursday asking it to grant an order of status quo pending when the suit he brought seeking to restrain the Baraje faction from parading itself as the recognized faction of the party was decided.

Mr Chukwu adjourned the suit till September 20 to hear the substantive suit.

Last week, Mr Tukur and 11 members of the National Working Committee of the PDP had, through an ex parte motion, asked the court to stop Mr Baraje, his deputy, Sam Jaja, National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and others from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

The court ordered that the Baraje faction should be put on notice by the Tukur faction and subsequently fixed the hearing for September 13.

The Baraje faction objected saying the issue was a domestic affair of the ruling party.

It also said that the suit should not have been brought before the Federal High Court but a state or Federal Capital Territory High Court. ______________SOURCE