Ex-Abia deputy speaker files motion to halt PDP presidential primary

Cosmas Ndukwe, a former deputy speaker of Abia state house of assembly, has approached a federal high court in Abuja seeking to stop the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary. 

The PDP presidential primary is scheduled to take place on May 28.

Ndukwe filed an ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2022, through his lawyer, Paul Erokoro, on Thursday.

He asked the court to stop the PDP presidential primary election because the party has not been zoned its ticket to the south-east.

But Kalu Agu Kalu, counsel to the PDP who was in court, challenged the motion and asked the judge, Donatus Okorowo, not to grant the request of the plaintiff.

After considering the argument of the PDP’s lawyer, the judge fixed May 5 for hearing, during which the PDP is expected to show cause why the ex parte motion should not be granted.

The development comes amid speculations over how the PDP will handle the matter of zoning its presidential ticket, considering that aspirants have emerged from both the north and the south.

Meanwhile, the PDP zoning committee chaired by Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue. has submitted its report to the party’s national working committee (NWC).

While the PDP NWC is yet to announce the party’s decision on zoning, Ortom had denied reports that the zoning committee recommended throwing the presidential ticket open.