A high court in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State has issued an order restraining the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) from conducting ward congresses in six local government areas of the state.
The court’s decision affects Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Kwande, Ushongo, and Konshisha, where local government congresses were scheduled for August 10, 2024.
This suspension will remain in place pending an investigation into the disruption of ward congresses held in these areas on July 27, 2024.
The court’s ruling, according to Daily Trust, followed a complaint filed by Senator Emmanuel Orker Jev and other plaintiffs, leading to a decision aimed at protecting the interests of the affected party members.
The court declared that the congresses in these six areas would not proceed until the issues were resolved, with a hearing on the matter scheduled for August 16, 2024.
However, the court order does not affect the state congress, which is still planned for August 31, 2024.
The PDP’s ward congress on July 27, 2024, was marred by controversy, with allegations that some party leaders removed electoral materials intended for the affected local government areas.
This has exacerbated internal divisions within the PDP, leading to suspensions and counter-suspensions among party leaders from both factions.
