The hearing date for the substantive suit seeking to remove Iyorchia Ayu as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman has been pushed back to April 28, 2023.
Justice Kpochi made the decision on Monday at the Makurdi High Court.
Justice Kpochi also resigned from the case, stating that he would return the case file to the Chief Judge of Benue State for reassignment to another judge because he is starting a national assignment at the elections petitions tribunal.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls Ayu was suspended by the PDP executives at his Igyorov ward, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, after they passed a vote of no confidence in him.
On March 27, 2023, Justice Kpochi issued an interim order restraining Ayu from parading himself as the PDP national chairman pending the hearing and determination of the suit, based on an ex-parte motion filed by a PDP member, Conrad Utaan.
Ayu’s lawyer, J.J Usman, told the court yesterday that he was withdrawing Ayu’s preliminary objection and counter affidavit to the suit, which he filed on April 3.
While Utaan’s lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), did not object to the withdrawal of the two processes, he requested that the court award Ayu costs because the plaintiff came prepared to hear the substantive suit.
Ukala also informed the court that the defendants served him with new processes while he was in court and that he would have to respond to them.
After hearing the lawyers’ arguments, Justice Kpochi adjourned the case until April 28 for the hearing of the substantive suit.