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The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, yesterday issued a fresh order compelling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the primary election conducted by the Ejike Oguebego-led executive in Anambra State that produced Senator Andy Uba, as candidate for the November 16 governorship election in the state pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The presiding judge, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, while ruling on the motion for interlocutory injunction moved by counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Jude Nnodim (SAN), said from facts before him, there was a pending order issued by a court on the May 31 in Awka, Anambra State ordering the parties to maintain status quo, which was yet to be vacated or appealed.
Nganjiwa held that the rules of a court demanded that an order of court should be obeyed pending another pronouncement by a competent court of jurisdiction.
He, therefore, ordered that “all parties maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit; All parties should obey the order of court which was issued on May 31, 2013; The 1st and 2nd defendants (PDP and INEC), respectively, should recognise Andy Uba as the standard-bearer of the PDP in Anambra State, pending the determination of the substantive suit.”
However, after ruling on the motion, Nganjiwa said he might not continue with the matter because of a petition written against him by Ike and Associates, demanding the chief judge to disqualify him from hearing the matter.
He said he would only continue with the matter if the chief judge directs him to continue.
In his reaction to Nganjiwa’s threat to quit the matter, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Jude Nnodim (SAN), represented by Mr. Charles Onyebuka, urged the judge to continue with the matter and hear it on merit, except there was a contrary directive, as issues of petitions were not new in matters of this nature.
Counsel to PDP, Mecha Kalu, also urged the judge to continue with the matter as the crisis was capable of destroying the party if it was not speedily resolved.
He also noted that the petition was not written by the PDP.
The judge later adjourned the matter to September 19 for mention, pending the directive of the chief judge.
