Breaking: Court Stops Ebonyi PDP Caretaker Committee

A High Court sitting in Ebonyi State on Thursday restrained the members of the newly sworn in State Caretaker Committee of the People Democratic Party (PDP) from parading themselves in this capacity.

The Onyekachi Nwebonyi led State Working Committee of the Party had filed ex-party motion at the court follow in the dissolution of the party executive in the state by the National Executive Committee of the party.

The Nwebonyi-led State Working Committee of the party was dissolved last week following the defection of the governor, David Umahi to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The National Working Committee of the party also announced and inaugurated a nine member caretaker committee to be led by Fred Ụdogụ.

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But Nwebonyi and other members of the SWC dragged the People’s Democratic Party (1st respondent) the National Chairman, Uche Secondus (2nd respondent) to court, challenging the dissolution.

Also joined in the suit as 3rd to 11th respondent are the nine members of the said Caretaker Committee.

The plaintiffs represented by their Counsel, Roy Umahi, alleged wrongful dissolution of the SWC, saying that they were not given fair hearing before the purported dissolution.

In a motion ex parte, the SWC members prayed the court to grant an order of interim injunction restraining the PDP from dissolving the SWC and from continuance of the purported dissolution or giving effect to the purported dissolution of the State Working Committed of the PDP at state, local government or ward level.

The plaintiffs also sought an interim injunction restraining the first respondent (PDP) and second respondent (Secondus) from continuance of the purported establishment or composition or recognition of the Caretaker Committee comprising the 3rd to 11th respondents.

The plaintiffs further prayed the court to restrain the PDP and Secondus from inaugurating, transferring to, and /or vesting on the 3rd to 11th respondents the authorities, powers and/or functions of the exercised members of the State Executive of the party at state, LGA and ward levels pending the determination of the motion on notice.

They also urged the court to restrain the 3rd to 11th respondents from parading themselves as caretaker committee members in charge of Ebonyi State chapter of the party and or usurping the powers and function of the State Executive Committees at the state, LGA and ward levels pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The plaintiffs further prayed the court to grant them leave of substituted service to the respondents.

Furthermore, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Mr. Roy Umahi argued that there were no facts warranting or necessitating the dissolution by the 1st and 2nd defendants of the of Ebonyi State Executive Council Committee of the PDP at the State, local government and ward levels each selected for a four year tenure.

He noted that there was no genuine reason for the setting up of a caretaker committee.

Also, he argued that neither the National Executive Committee nor any other organ of the party has the power or authority to dissolve the local government and ward executives of the party before the expiration of their tenures.

In his ruling, the presiding Judge, Justice Elvis Ngele granted all the prayers of the plaintiffs and adjourned the matter to December 2, 2020 for hearing.

In his reaction, Mr. Nwebonyi said the ruling is a landmark which will in turn end an era of impunity in the main opposition party.

He further noted that with ruling the State Working Committee led by him, will continue to carry out its activities without interruption.