Federal High Court opens hearing on suit seeking cancellation of PDP North election

From Idu Jude

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday opened a preliminary hearing on the suit seeking the annulment of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) North Central Zonal election held in Jos, Plateau State, on Saturday, May 24.

During the court sitting on Thursday, July 17, between Hon. Stephen Abraham Ajiya, the plaintiff, versus PDP and three others, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1111/2025 pending at Court 8, Federal High Court, the plaintiff’s lawyer, S.C. Uchendu, told the court that the case was slated for mention and that PDP and INEC had been duly served, but all efforts to serve Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed and the Chairman of the PDP North Central Zonal Election Appeal Panel/Committee, named as the 2nd and 3rd defendants in the case, proved abortive.

He further told the court that he had filed a motion seeking an order of the court to serve the 2nd and 3rd defendants by pasting at the gate of PDP Headquarters, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, and would like to move the motion.

B.F. Folarunsho represented the PDP, and Tracy O. Ibo represented INEC in preliminary objections to oppose the motion, which were resisted by the plaintiff’s counsel.

He, however, told the court that by the nature of his motion, the counsel to PDP cannot and is not allowed to interfere with it, as it is aimed at ensuring justice and a fair hearing for those not served personally.

The court agreed with Hon. Stephen Ajiya’s lawyer and directed him to proceed and move his motion, which it granted, ordering that Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed and the Chairman of the PDP North Central Zonal Election Appeal Panel/Committee be served by pasting at the gate of PDP National Head Office, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, and adjourned the case to Tuesday, October 28, 2025, for hearing.

While clarifying some legal grounds for the matter before the Abuja Federal High Court, counsel to Hon. Stephen Ajiya, Barrister S.C. Uchendu, said his client is challenging the outcome of the PDP North Central Zonal Congress election held in Jos, Plateau State, on Saturday, May 24, 2025, which was rigged and characterised by illegalities, manipulation, official compromise, vote buying, absence of a free and fair election, and lack of due process.

Barrister Uchendu also said that the client is contesting that the 21-day statutory notice given to INEC before the Zonal Congress election by PDP was not signed and countersigned by the National Secretary of PDP, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu, as required by law, thereby voiding the entire congress election.

He said part of Hon. Ajiya’s claim is also alleging that his opponent, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, who was the PDP Deputy National Auditor, did not duly resign his position before contesting and ought to have been disqualified from contesting.

He is praying the court to nullify the zonal congress election or to declare him, Hon. Stephen Ajiya, the winner as the only candidate and contestant who complied with the law, was solely qualified, stood for the election, and legally vied for the position in law.