* Orders status quo to remain.

The use of ad hoc delegates in the upcoming PDP primaries in the Akwa Ibom State has been truncated.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in the case of Friday Iwok and 30 others Vs PDP and INEC decided today (May 18, 2022) that the status quo should remain, pending the determination of the main suit.

When the case, Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/606/2022- RT. HON. FRIDAY IWOK &ORS V. INEC & Anor came up, the court granted the injunction against the usage of the April 30, 2022 Adhoc delegates list for the PDP Congresses in Akwa Ibom State.

While adjourning the case to Wednesday, May 25, 2022 for hearing, the Court directed that the Status Quo be maintained.

According to a legal luminary, Barrister Jerry Akpan, the implication of the court decision is that “ad hoc delegates issue in the upcoming PDP primaries has been buried”.

He explained that with the latest court pronouncement, the Ad-hoc delegates will NOT vote in the House of Assembly primary on May 21, 2022, House of Representatives primary on May 22, 2022, Senatorial primary on May 23 as well as the May 25, 2022 governorship primary.

Barr Akpan said by the time the substantive suit would have been done with, it would be too late to talk about as hoc delegate issue, meaning it would have been overtaken by circumstance.