PDP Must Respect Zoning – Justice Ishaq Usman Bello

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 10, (THEWILL) – Justice Isaq Usman Bello of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court Abuja today ruled that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must respect the principle of zoning enshrined in Article 7 (2) c of its constitution.

“Article 7.2 (c) of the PDP Constitution having stipulated zoning, party members must respect it,” Justice Bello ordered.

The judge also added that it is too early to seek to disqualify President Goodluck Jonathan or any person since the party has not presented him as its Presidential candidate.

Justice Bello thereafter ruled that there is no sufficient cause to disqualify President Jonathan and dismissed the suit filed by some aggrieved members of the party.

He also ruled that the preliminary objection filed by President Goodluck Jonathan challenging the suit succeeds.

Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, Hon. Dubem Onyia and Alhaji Lawal Kaita, had asked the court to restrain PDP and its National Chairman, Chief Okwesileze Nwodo from presenting President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate for the April 2011 presidential election.

The PDP is slated to elect its Presidential candidate on January 13, 2010 at a National Convention in Abuja.