By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Thursday for judgment in the chairmanship dispute suit filed by former governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Peter Lifu fixed the date after counsel for Lamido, Jeph Njikonye, SAN; lawyer to PDP, Omokayode Dada, SAN; Joseph Daudu, SAN, who appeared for parties that were joined in the suit, and INEC lawyer adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the suit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justic Lifu had, earlier, restrained the PDP from going ahead with its scheduled national convention pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit filed by Lamido.

The judge, In a ruling, also restrained the Independent National Electrical Commission (INEC) from monitoring, supervising or recognising the outcome of the convention, pending the hearing and determination of the suit before him.

Justice Lifu held that the application filed by the applicant, Lamido, was meritorious and accordingly succeeds.

The judge, who noted the judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho on Oct. 31 stopping PDP from holding the convention still subsists, held that it would be in the Interest of justice to grant Lamido’s request.

The judge held that evidence from Lamido showed that the timetable for the convention was not published for the attention of its members as required by law.

Justice lifu also held that the balance of convenience tilted towards Lamido because he would suffer more if allowed to be unlawfully excluded from the planned convention, hence, it was necessary to grant the preservative order.

To make remedy, the judge said that the former governor had undertaken to pay damages to PDP in the event that his suit was found to be frivolous.

According to the judge, in a constitutional democracy, due process of law must be strictly followed by those in charge, adding that to do otherwise, will endanger democracy itself.

He said In line with Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, court of law must not abdicate its role of dispensing justice without fear or favour.

The judge then stood down the matter to allow parties regularise their processes.

When the case was recalled, parties adopted their processes and presented their arguments in the matter and the judge fixed Nov. 13 for judgment.

Lamido, while speaking with newsmen shortly after the proceedings, said he felt sad dragging PDP to court over his exclusion from purchasing the chairmanship nomination form in the 2025 national convention of the party.

Lamido, a former minister of Foreign Affairs, said that even though the interim restraining order had been issued against PDP not to go ahead with the planned convention and which called for his celebration, he nonetheless felt bad that he was forced to opt for the court action.

The former governor recalled his long relationship which culminated in his election as a governor of Jigawa and his appointment as Foreign Affairs minister.

He, however, said that he opted for court action against PDP to get justice for himself.

He said that as a bonafide member of the PDP, he had approached the leadership of the party to purchase national chairmanship nomination form but was denied.

“In this case, if my party lost, I also lose. I feel like crying taking this path.

“When we fight as brothers, the trust is lost, the bond of brotherhood is also lost,” he said.

Lamido, in a motion ex-parte moved by his lawyer, Njikonye, on Oct. 31, had prayed the court to make the interim order, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed alongside.

The ex-governor said if the PDP was not restrained by the court, the party would be violating its constitution, and by implication denying him the opportunity to contest for the position of the national chairman of the party of which he is eminently qualified to contest.

NAN reports that Justice James Omotosho of a sister court had, on Oct. 31, issued similar orders stopping INEC from supervising or recognising the outcome of the convention scheduled for Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The judge, In a judgment, held that due process was not followed in the way the convention was being planned.

Besides, Omotosho held that the PDP failed to issue the mandatory 21 days notice of meetings and congresses to enable INEC carry out its mandatory duty of monitoring such meetings and congresses. (NAN)