The Yakubu Lado-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina State conducted its congress despite a court warrant obtained by the other faction.
A chieftain of the party, Ahmed Aminu-Yar’adua, said that the exercise carried out by the Lado-led faction was not acceptable to the Mustapha Inuwa-led faction.
According to Mr Aminu-Yar’adua, no fewer than 7,000 party members were denied the right to purchase forms for the ward, local government and state congresses.
The Inuwa-led faction had earlier accused Lado, the former governorship candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections in the state, of hijacking the process.
As Lado’s running mate, Mr Aminu-Yar’adua said that the aspirants, who hoped to participate in the congresses, had petitioned the national secretariat of PDP but regretted that nothing was done.
His words, “Therefore we are not participating in any of the congresses, because we rejected the process due the injustice done to many of the members.
“We have taken the issue to the State High Court, seeking to restrain them from conducting the congresses.
“Our wish is that the court should stop them so that other interested party members would be allowed to exercise their right to participate.”
In addition, Mustapha Shitu-Mahuta, the counsel for the faction loyal to Inuwa told newsmen that they had submitted their court warrant to the party’s national secretariat and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Mr Shitu-Mahuta expressed surprise that the faction loyal to Lado went ahead with the congresses, despite available court warrant.
Describing the conducted congress as going against the law, Mr Shitu-Mahuta said that his clients were seeking the cancellation of the congresses and restraining the other faction from conducting the exercise in the state.
The faction loyal to Lado, conducted its Ward congress in July, while that of the local government took place on Saturday, August 10.
