Ortom seeks court order restraining PDP from disqualifying him

September 11, 2023

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has filed a case at the State High Court seeking an order to restrain the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) from disqualifying him from contesting.

“Ortom is the plaintiff and applicant while PDP and INEC are the defendants in the case. One of his aides. Abraham Kwaghngu, swore to an affidavit filed at the High Court Registry, Makurdi on 16° February 2023.

“The plaintiff said that the motion on order was filed particularly the affidavit in support of the motion and the affidavit of urgency and upon the oral arguments of his Counsel, S.T. Hon SAN prayed the court to grant his reliefs (1) to (4) of the motion.

“That the applicant in the motion on notice restraint the 1st Defendant/Respondent either by itself or its National Working Committee and/or National Executive Council and/or its National officers (elected or appointed) and/or its North Central Zonal Executive Officers (elected or appointed) and/or ts Benue State Officers (elected or appointed) and/or its Guma Local Government Area Officers (elected or appointed) and/or its Nzorov Council Ward Officers (elected or appointed) or any of its other organs or officials (anyhow so-called) from expelling, suspending or levying any other punishment on the Plaintiff/Applicant pending the determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.

“An interim order of injunction ie also made restraining the two Defendant/Respondent either by itself or any of its Officials/Officers/Directors/Departmental or other Heads/any other officer by whatever name called from receiving and/or acting upon any Communication made by the 1st Defendant/Respondent seeking to disqualify from contesting or seeking nor to be placed on the ballot paper the name of the Plaintiff/Applicant as the 1st Defendant’s candidate for the Benue North West Senatorial District in the 2023 general election pending the determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.

“An order of interim injunction is made restraining the 2nd Defendant/Respondent either by itself or any of its Officials/Officers/Directors/Departmental or other Heads/any other officer by whatever name called from refusing for whatever reason to place the name of the Plaintiff/Applicant on the ballot to contest the Benue North West Senatorial election slated for February 25th, 2023 or any other rescheduled dated pending the determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory Injunction.

It will be recalled that Ortom who is contesting the senatorial seat in the February 25 general elections had with the other four governors withdrew their support from the party presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

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