The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was yet to receive the Federal High Court, Abuja judgement on the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
This is contained in a statement from INEC Deputy Director on Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Nick Dazang, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Dazang said that INEC would come up with its position on motoring of the convention, adding that its staff were on standby for further directive.
“Even though the commission has been served the Port Harcourt High Court judgment, it is yet to be served the Abuja High Court judgment by Justice Abang.
“ As soon as it (the Commission) is served the Abuja High Court judgement, it will take a decision.
“In the meantime, and following the Port Harcourt judgement, our monitoring staff are on standby,’’ Dazang said.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, had barred the PDP from holding the convention, pending hearing and determination of the substantive suit filed by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.
Justice Ibrahim Watila of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had on Monday ordered that the party’s National Caretaker Committee should proceed with the convention in Port Harcourt as scheduled.
Watila also ordered that NEC and security agencies should monitor the convention.
But in contrast, Justice Okon Abang also barred the PDP from presenting and electing candidates as National Officers of the party.
The court gave the verdict in a motion on notice filed by the factional National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sherriff, against the convention
Abang had also on Monday granted an interim order suspending preparations and holding of the national convention in Port Harcourt, pending the determination of the application filed before him on July 20.
It would also be recalled that Justice Liman Makhmud in Port Harcourt, had on July 4, validated the PDP convention held in Port Harcourt on May 21.
In its ruling on Tuesday, the Federal High Court, Abuja, barred the PDP from holding the convention, pending hearing and determination of the substantive suit filed by Sheriff.
Justice Okon Abang also barred the PDP from presenting and electing candidates as National Officers of the party.
The court gave the ruling in a motion on notice filed by Sherriff against the convention.
Justice Abang further restrained INEC from monitoring any convention, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Furthermore, the court ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to enforce the order against the planned convention.
Besides, the judge directed Sheriff to obtain Form 48, so as to commit anybody or group who may disobey the order.
Abang took his fit at Justice Mrs Ibrahim Watila of the Port Harcourt Division of the court for dabbling into the PDP matter in spite of the pending one in Abuja.
He said that the Port Harcourt division would have done well if it had referred the suit instituted by Senator Ben Obi instead of assuming jurisdiction.
Apparently furious with the conflicting decisions of the two courts, Abang said the Port Harcourt division has set a stage for legal combatants to determine which legal decisions to be obeyed.
“This division is strongly with Port Harcourt on jurisdiction, but the Port Harcourt division should not have assumed jurisdiction because the Supreme Court has made it clear that when a situation like this arise, a judge should confer with the CJ.
“Let me make it clear that Port Harcourt division cannot overrule me; any party who disobeyed my decision should have himself to blame,’’ Abang warned.
He adjourned to September 7, for hearing of the substantive suit.
