2023: Labour Party applies to join suit seeking PDP’s disqualification in Enugu

 Labour Party has filed an application of to join a suit seeking disqualification of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the 2023 elections.

The suit, originally brought against PDP by the African Democratic Congress senatorial candidate for Enugu north, Chika Emmanuel Idoko, was filed at the federal high court, Abuja.

It has been transferred to the federal high court, Enugu, and slated for hearing on November 24.

The suit is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the PDP from fielding candidates for all positions available, including governorship, senatorial, house of representatives and house of assembly in the state during the 2023 elections.

Labour party’s motion for joinder was filed by Chukwudei Igwe, Emeka Abba, Helen Ugwu, and Oluseyi Adegbejo.

Listed as respondents in the suit, No FHC/EN/CS/217/22 are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP governorship candidate, Peter Mbah, senatorial candidate of the party for Enugu north, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, all senatorial, house of representatives and house of assembly candidates of the party in the state.

The Labour Party, in the suit, is alleged PDP violated provisions of the Electoral Act, which prescribes a minimum number of days of notice before conducting the party primaries that produced the candidates that it submitted to INEC ahead of the 2023 elections, and thus should be by the Court from taking part in the elections.

It seeks a declaration that “by the interpretations of the express provisions of Sections 82(5) and 84(13) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the failure of the 2nd defendant to submit the register of members 30 days to the primary election to the 1″ defendant as statutorily required renders the 2nd defendant’s primary election for nomination of the 3rd to 38th Defendants as candidates for Governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly in Enugu State for the 2023 General Election held on 21st, 22nd, 24th and 23 and 25th May 2022 invalid.

Section 82 of the Electoral Act states in part that “Every registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21 days notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this Act. Failure to comply with this Section, according to the Act, shall render the convention, congress, conference or meeting invalid.

Other prayers before the Court by the Plaintiffs include a “declaration that by the interpretation of the express provisions of Section 84 (13) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the 1″ defendant is under a duty not to include the 3rd to 38th defendants as Candidates of the 2nd defendant for Governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly in Enugu State for the 2023 General Election.”