The Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Friday upheld the ward congress of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) held in the 177 wards of the state on March 15, 2025.
Justice Bamidele Omotosho in a ruling also nullified the new delegates’ list submitted by the national body of the party, and dismissed other actions and decisions taken after the Congress.
Freedomonline reports that Justice Omotoso gave the ruling in the suit filed on May 6, 2025, by Hon. Afolabi Adedeji on behalf of elected ward executives.
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).
Justice Omotosho said: “The Supreme Court held that it is an elementary principle that no suit based on a charlatan claim must be acted upon by the court.
“The High Court, in adherence to the above-cited principle of law, relying on the unchallenged disposition and the supporting affidavit to the originating process against the defendant, hereby makes the following orders:
“That the claimant is the duly elected first defendant, chairman, and delegate of Ward 1, Ado-Ekiti Local Government, as shown in Exhibit 1, having regard to Paragraphs 1, 2(a), and 12 of the Conduct of Convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), 2024.
“I declare invalid, and it is hereby set aside, the purported list of delegates submitted by the defendants to the first, second, and third defendants, in contravention of Sections 2, 15(2)(3), and 49 of the Congress for election into all positions of the PDP, having regard to Sections 82 and 83 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and Section 40.2.2.3 and Item 15(c), Third Schedule of the Constitution of the PDP.
“The defendants, their privies and agents are hereby perpetually restrained from recognizing the purported list of delegates in contravention of the Constitution of the PDP, 2017 (as amended).
“Having regard to Sections 82 and 83 of the Electoral Act, 2022, Section 40, Section 223, and Item 15 of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), parties are advised to review the parts in this case to avoid sin and to refrain from resorting to self-help.
“No one shall undermine the authority of this order; Registrar’s Order: The restraining of the parties during the pendency of the suit, and the flagrant disobedience to the aforesaid order of this court with regard to the election of congresses to the 177 wards, was in contempt. Such actions are hereby nullified, voided and set aside by this Honourable Court”.
Speaking on judgment, a PDP Chieftain in Ekiti, Funsho Ayeni commended the Court, noting that it gives opportunities for party faithful to reunite for the growth and development of the party.
He urged party leaders to bury acrimony and work towards making PDP a formidable political party in the state.
