By Taiye Agbaje
Judgment in the suit filed by former Gov. Sule Lamido of Jigawa, was, on Thursday, stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Lamido is challenging his exclusion from contesting the chairmanship position in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s national convention.
The judgment, which was fixed for today by Justice Peter Lifu, could not be delivered.
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The court registrar announced to lawyers and litigants, including the ex-governor, who were in court that the judgment was not ready and that parties would be communicated on the next adjourned date.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Lifu had, on Tuesday, fixed today for the judgment.
The judge 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.
Justic Lifu had, earlier on Tuesday, 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 Electoral 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 motion ex-parte filed by the applicant, Lamido, was meritorious and accordingly succeeded.
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.
The judge then stood down the matter for some hours 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. (NAN)
