By joshua 
Understand High Court Judgement On Kogi PDP Chairmanship Election, Don’t Mislead the Public – Hon. Muhammed Sani Gambo
Recently the Kogi State High Court 5, presided by Justice Yahaya Adamu delivered a judgement in the suit brought before it by Capt. Joe Agada, one of the Contestants in the August 31st Congress PDP State Congress.
In Capt. Joe Agada’s suit seeking for a cancellation of the election, it is important to State that the Judge declared his lack of jurisdiction over the matter.
Recalled that same Justify Yahaya Adams, in July 2024 in an order, barred Enemona Anyebe from the purchase and presenting himself for screening in the August 31st Congress.
It is also important to State that the judgment till date was never vacated by any court of competent jurisdiction despite his heading to same court of same jurisdiction to challenge it but it was dismissed.
Similarly, on 18th February, 2025, same Justice Yahaya Adamu declared the emergence of Enemona Anyebe’s participation in the Congress, following his disobedience to the order of July 2024, null and void.
The Judge declared his emergence as of no consequence, ordered for his immediate arrest for contempt. Till date, that matter has not been appealled against.
Following the February 18th Judgment, Hon. Mohammed Sanni Gambo, the second runner up in the August 31st Congress, challenged the judgment on the ground that Enemona Anyebe was as at the day the congress took place, base on the order barring him from participating was not a contestant in that State Congress.
Similarly, aside the declaration that Enemona Anyebe’s participation was void, said he challenged the judgement because rather than ordering for a cancellation of the election which was not a prayer, he ought to have been declared as winner of the election.
“The August 31st Congress was a process in which the Independent National Electoral Commission officials supervised. The certify true copy of the results and scores of each of the contestant is in the public domain”.
“The outcome and processes of the congress was never faulted. The Congress was declared by all the monitoring observers as free and fair, reason why heading to court by Capt Joe Agada, seeking cancellation, was considered an issue lacking in jurisdiction by the court as the INEC report affirmed the proper conduct of the Congress”.
“It is important even as acknowledged by INEC and PDP that yes the issue of zone was strictly adhered to in the Congress, said the Chairmanship position was zoned to the East, made up of nine Local Government for which all the participants maintained”.
Presently, there was a new twist to the matter at the Federal High Court, following the joinder by Hon. Tony Amego, seeking to be declared as Chairman, having finished behind Hon. Mohammed Sanni Gambo, on the premise of a micro zoning. Unfortunately there where other zoning, with one specifically to Bassa by reasons of it strength and delivery in the last General election. But more importantly, the law and constitution only seeks to recognize zoning to the East, which was duly maintained by all the candidates who contested.
The lack of jurisdiction made by the Judge was to the effect that he had earlier ruled on the matter on 18th February, 2025, with full knowledge that the election was conducted, but frowned against disobedience of the court order.
It is important to State that democracy thrives on the rule of law and no matter how little it is, not when it is contempt related, considered criminal in nature, nothing can be injurious to any society when the Laws and court of any society is treated with disdain.
Speaking, Hon. Muhammed said for clarity, “the issue brought before the court by Capt Joe, is not fresh, was instituted after the congress, but as it is known all over the world, particularly in our clime, the wheel of justice grinds slowly, until a few days ago, where the Court said having dispensed with the matter on the PDP State Congress, declared a lack of jurisdiction to cancel the election.
The simple explanation to the judgement of Capt Joe Agada who Lost in his bid to call for the cancellation of the State Congress is because INEC who monitored and reported the election gave it a clean bill. Already, the case against Enemona had earlier on been set aside by the judgement of February 18th, 2025. So to the appealant and defendant, no party got reprive.
It has become so important to set the records clear, and not to deceive sane minds as well as the general public of whether Enemona Anyebe was a winner in the suit brought by Capt Agada, as the PDP is still having a vacuum of the Chairmanship position.
It is important to add that the National Secretariate of the PDP is aware of the vacuum existing in the Kogi PDP reason why the recent North Central Zonal Congress of the PDP, Enemona Anyebe was never recognized as the Chairman, asked the Court and knowing fully well that the matter is in several court, is waiting for the various judgment, unfortunately, the Capt Agada suit still left that vacuum open.
The issue brought by Capt Agada lacks jurisdiction as we have since passed that stage. That the election was duly contested for and won is not in doubt, excepti for the issue of contempt proceeding that caught Enemona Anyebe napping, making his votes wasted, I amd Hon. Tony and Capt Agada participated in the Congress, meaning there was election.
That Hon. Muhammad Sani Gambo the runner up in the last August 31 PDP Chairmanship election says he is the duly elected Chairman, is also a matter in court awaiting judgment.
He has over the last one year addressed several forum to intervene in the Kogi PDP matter, insisting that he ought to have since been sworn in as the State PDP Chairman.
He faulted the February 18th Judgment, saying he finished first, since in the eyes of law, Enemona Anyebe was not a contestant.
Hon. Muhammad strongly predicated his argument on the fact that Enemona Anyebe was barred from contesting the 31st August, 2024 PDP State Congress, pointing out that High Court on 18th February, 2025 further affirmed his non qualification to contest in the Congress.
Hon. Muhammad described the injustice meted out to him as one too much, urge all the PDP National Assembly Members, Leaders of Kogi PDP and Nigerians of goodwill to come to his aid, maintaining that he will no longer accept the illegality as the duly elected Chairman of the State PDP.
According to Hon. Muhammed, “as at 31st August 31, 2024, there was a valid order of the Court that debarred Enemona Anyebe from contesting the PDP State Congress as Chairman”.
He said that the judgement is without ambiguity, said the court was clear that Enemona Anyebe was not supposed to be part of the process because of the valid order of the court that was not vacated.
He said the judgement of the Lokoja High Court on February 18th was clear and explicit having granted that the case of contempt brought before it.
According to Hon. Muhammad, ” Since in the wisdom of the Lokoja High Court that declared that the participation of Enemona Anyebe in that said Congress was null and void”, called on the PDP Chairman Governor’s Forum, Chairman of the National PDP, Leaders of the party as well as well meaning Nigerians to intervene and let justice prevail.
“I call on Gov. Bala Mohammed, the National leadership of the PDP to ensure that my Inauguration is done without further delay as Justice delayed is justice denied”.
“Your Excellency, Gov. Bala Mohammed, the court has ruled that Enemona’s participation is illegal, null and void. therefore, it behooves on the Chairman Governor’s Forum, Amb. Damagun as Chairman, Members of the National Working Committee and National leadership of the PDP to swear me in as the duly elected Chairman of the State PDP”.
” This is because as at the time of the August 31st Kogi State PDP Congress, there was a valid order of the court that restrained the purported winner from participating. Having finished runner up, I, Urge the leadership of our party to immediately inaugurate me as the duly elected Chairman of the State PDP”.
” There is the need for the enforcement of discipline in our Party. Your Excellency, kindly ensure that disobedience of Court Order on contempt is not permitted, particularly that the Judiciary in a democracy remains the bastion of the sanctity of the people and democratic norms, remains sacrosanct. The issues raised and affirmed by the Court is constitutional. There can not be the PDP without Nigeria”.
“It is the height of injustice for the PDP not to still swear me in as the duly elected Chairman of the party, because I’m the only valid contestant with the highest number of vote scored in that election”.
“I, Mohammed Sani Gambo is the winner of the State PDP Congress by virtue of my being runner up based on the various judgment as delivered On 18th February, 2025, by Justice Yahaya Adamu of the State High Court where he declared as follows: “The 7th respondents, Enemona Anyebe’s participation in the PDP State Congress of 31/08/2024 is illegal, null and void, hence his purported declaration by PDP as elected official is null and void”.
” In suit no: HC/OKP/8/2024, Motion No:HC/OKO/55M/2024, the Court on 31st day of July, 2024 made an order against Enemona Anyebe and the respondents from 1-7, for are bound to obey”.
“Therefore the 31st August, 2024 PDP election was an election I won since the person so declared was not fit and qualified to contest as contained in the Judgment”.
” Let me add that no appellate court order had set aside the orders made on 31st July, 2024 with suit no HC/OKP/54/2024 which barred Enemona Anyebe from contesting. This order was later reaffirmed by the judgement of contempt by the High Court on February 18th, 2025.
I, thank the Governor’s Forum Chairman, National Chairman and the National working Committee that by virtue of the various judgment, the 7th respondent, was barred from parading himself nor recognized as Chairman. Rather, I’m by virtue of my being the only valid contestant with highest number of vote scored in that election, the State Chairman, Kogi PDP and should be sworn in immediately.
Enough is enough of misleading the public by Enemona and his cohort. The time for security agencies to look for him for arrest is now as he is in the penchant for misleading the public
as well as misinterpreting judgement.