The Edo state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], on Saturday, ignored an Abuja High court order of interlocutory injunction restraining it from holding or conducting any Congress in the state.

As early as 7:30 am on Saturday, the party commenced the accreditation of delegates and media coverage for the Congress at the residence of the outgoing chairman, Mr Dan Orbih.

At the venue of the Congress at Word of Faith ground along Faith way Benin, high-level security was provided by the police with over twenty patrol vans while delegates and observers were subjected to a security screening before entering the compound.

As at the time of filing this report, voting has already commenced according to Local Government areas

Meanwhile, in a motion filed by Friday Okah and three others against the PDP, the suit is challenging the ward and local government areas Congresses conducted by the party in Edo state on Saturday 1st, February and Saturday 7th March 2020.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Aikhuenegbe Anthony Malik who is counsel to Friday Okah three others warned the Peoples Democratic Party against the conduct of the Edo State Congress scheduled to hold today March 14.

Earlier Justice Joy Okeaya-Inneh of the Edo State High Court sitting in Ekpoma had ordered that status quo be maintained till March 31st when it would rule on whether to strike out the suit filed by Mr. Sylvanus Eruaga against the February 1st Ward congresses of the party

The Edo PDP had filed a motion to strike out the suit and the court adjourned ruling to March 31st on whether to strike out the suit.

It ordered all parties to maintain status quo.

Counsel to Eruaga, Barr. Dele Igbinedion said his clients would abide and urged the PDP and INEC to obey the order.

Chief Malik said some aggrieved Edo PDP leaders had filed a suit at the Abuja Federal High Court challenging the conduct of the party’s Ward and Local Government Congresses on February 1st and March 7.

Malik in a letter to National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said a motion of notice has been filed seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the party from holding or organising State Congresses because the Wards and LG Congresses were in violation of PDP constitution.

He stated that parties in the suit ought to maintain status quo by not conducting any State Congress in line with Order 4 Rule 9 of the Civil Procedure Rules of the High Court.

According to him,

“It is noteworthy that the suit having been properly filed before a competent court of law, the position of the law is that parties ought to and indeed should respect the institution of the judiciary by ensuring that nobody takes any step to tamper with the litigation.

“You are accordingly advised and required by law to suspend the proposed State Congress in Edo State. We are confident that under your leadership, the party will not act otherwise.

“Clearly, no harm will occasion any party to this suit on account of a suspension or postponement of the Congress until a determination of the Motion on Notice by the Court.”

When contacted, Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, said there was no court order stopping the State Congress as only a suit has been filed.

He said the Congress would hold as scheduled.

The tenure of the State Executive of the Edo PDP led by Chief Dan Orbih ends today and a new executive is expected to be elected.