The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, slated September 20 to commence hearing on the suit filed before it by the Bamanga Tukur led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, seeking to declare activities of the "New PDP"illegal.
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Justice Elvis Chukwu who presided over the case Friday, said he would hear both the substantive suit and preliminary objection filed against it by the respondents, led by the factional chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, on the same day.
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Other respondents who yesterday urged thecourt to dismiss the suit as lacking in merit included former Vice President, Atiku Abukakar, national secretary of the splinter group, Prince. Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Baraje's deputy, Dr Sam Jaja.
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It was the contention of the respondents that the suit not only lacked competence, but constitutes a domestic affair of a political party.
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While challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter, members of the 'new PDP', insisted that the case ought to have been filed before a state or FederalCapitalTerritory high court.