Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, PDP National Chairman
By Matthew Onah
The crisis in the Adamawa state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) took its toll on Monday on the feasibility of the conduct of local government council elections this year, following a Yola High Court injunction ordering a stoppage of all procedures in connection with the poll.
The Adamawa State High Court , presided by the state acting chief judge, justice Umar Bobboi, granted an injunction restraining the Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC), from conducting Local Government Elections , until further notice, following an exparte motion, brought by one Abdul-kadir Sambo and three others.
It would be recalled that the National Working Committee, of the PDP, had dissolved the state executive council of the party, last week for what it called the shoddy manner in handling the party primaries in the state.
The plaintiffs in their prayer had sought for an order of interim injunction to restrain the ADSIEC being the first respondent in the case from conducting elections into local government councils in the state until the matter is determined.
The motion is on the basis of the "special" ward and local government area congresses allegedly conducted by the PDP for electing chairmanship and councillorship candidates in the state.
The plaintiffs also sought the court to set aside any further steps taken by the PDP in giving effect to the same supposed "special" local government and ward congresses for electing chairmanship and councillorship candidates in the state.
Counsel to the complainants Ahmed Isa also submitted a 30 paragraph affidavit along with 12 exhibits to prove that they were denied from participating in the supposed election.
The counsel also told the court that contents of the exhibit file include payment receipts and nomination forms among other items and insisted that there was never a primary election in the state.
He also presented an affidavit of urgency as according to him the PDP has concluded plans to conduct general elections into local governments in the state and prayed that the court grant the application in the interest of justice.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Bobbo Umar said the application satisfied all necessary incidents and granted the request as prayed and adjourned the case to November 2nd.
Moreover, the CJ had earlier made a similar pronouncement in a motion that appeared before him which one Vidiyeno Bamaiyi filed against the state electoral commission, Lamurde Local Government, PDP and 12 others.
Counsel to the complainant Leonard Nzadon told the court that rather than conduct the supposed primary election in the local government headquarters it was diverted to a hotel in Numan council area.
Nzadon said his client paid N350, 000 to participate in the election but names of "winners" were later submitted to ADSIEC.
He also argued that the National Working Committee had earlier rejected the primaries but the state PDP flagrantly ignored them which according to him make all subsequent steps taken by the PDP without substance.
Nzadon presented a 26 paragraph affidavit with 10 exhibits and prayed the court to restrain ADSIEC from acting on the list of candidates submitted to it by PDP pending hearing.