The Federal High Court in Abuja has given permission for court documents to be served to the National Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Illiya Damagum, using alternate methods.
According to Daily Post, this decision was made after an ex parte application was submitted by Mr. Segun Sowunmi, a former governorship aspirant of the PDP in Ogun, seeking approval to serve the 2nd to 7th defendants.
These include the National Organising Secretary, Mr. Umar Bature, and the National Secretary, Mr. Samuel Anyanwu, through substituted means.
Sowunmi’s lawyer, Mr. Anderson Asemota, told the court that efforts to personally serve the mentioned defendants were unsuccessful. Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon, who presided over the court, granted the request for substituted service and scheduled the hearing for March 4.
Sowunmi took his case to court in order to compel the PDP leadership to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to report on the party’s activities since the last NEC meeting. In the suit, he also requested that the 1st to 7th defendants be directed to call a NEC meeting to present proposed election guidelines and regulations.
He sought an ongoing injunction preventing the 2nd to 8th defendants from performing their official duties until they hold the NEC meeting in accordance with the party’s constitution. He argued that, as the party’s spokesperson during the last election, he was obligated to file the suit to uphold the PDP’s objectives.
In addition, he called for a declaration that the 1st to 7th defendants must hold quarterly NEC meetings and present financial reports to the members.
The supporting affidavit for the suit emphasized the party’s failure to convene a NEC meeting since the last one on September 8, 2022, under the dismissed National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu.
Sowunmi stressed the importance of the court granting the requested relief, asserting that it was necessary for justice and that the defendants would not suffer any prejudice.