'We've not received court order against party's convention,' says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it has not received the Federal High Court, Abuja judgment on the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for Wednesday, August 17, in Port Harcourt,

Justice Okon Abang of the court had barred INEC from monitoring the PDP convention.

According to a statement issued by the INEC Deputy Director on Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Nick Dazang, today in Abuja, staff of the agency are on standby for further directives on the election.

Dazang: "Even though the commission has been served the Port Harcourt High Court judgment, it is yet to be served the Abuja High Court judgment by Justice Abang.

"As soon as it (the Commission) is served the Abuja High Court judgment, it will take a decision.

"In the meantime, and following the Port Harcourt judgment, our monitoring staff are on standby,’’ Dazang said.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Monday barred the PDP from holding its planned National Convention on Aug. 17, in Port Harcourt, pending hearing and determination of the substantive suit filed by Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff.

Justice Ibrahim Watila of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had ordered that the party’s National Caretaker Committee proceed with the convention in Port Harcourt as scheduled.

Watila also ordered that INEC and security agencies should monitor the convention.

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But in contrast, Justice Abang also barred the PDP from presenting and electing candidates as National Officers of the party.