Court orders PDP to suspend district, local and state congresses in Rivers State

A Rivers State High Court presided over by Justice Charles Wali has barred the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding a party congress in the state.

The order followed an interim injunction sought by 21 members of the party led by Ilaye Sunday Kitchen and Agile Handsome Ekelechi in the state.

The plaintiffs were joined by the party chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the National Organising Secretary, Hon. Umar Bature, and the National Financial Secretary, Mr. Daniel Woyegikuro, as well as the defendants in the case.

Also joining the suit were the party leadership in the state, including Honourable Aaron Chuk Wuemeka, Dr. Benibo George, Solomon Ogbonna, Lenebari Inaania, Enia Harris and ThankGod Owhorji.

They asked the court to prevent the party’s national leadership from holding a convention in the state.

Justice Wali after hearing the submissions of Emeka Ojoko Esq. ruled: “It is hereby ordered that an interim injunction be granted restraining the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Group of Defendants and their agents, servants, assigns, transferees and hirelings from assembling in any manner whatsoever in the 319 wards of the 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers State for the purpose of holding the District, Local Government or State Congresses of the 1st Defendant in Rivers State on 27th July, 2024, 10th August, 2024 and/or 315th August, 2024 or any other date and place in Rivers State or Nigeria or anywhere else and/or conducting any election of the Ad Hoc Delegates or National Delegates of the 1st Defendant in any forum wherever and however it may be held pending the hearing and determination of the application for interim injunction already here submitted.

“That an interim injunction be granted directing the fourth group of respondents and their agents, servants and intelligence officers to enforce and carry out the order(s) herein issued by restraining the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents from organizing, holding or conducting any district, local and state congress of the 1st respondent in Rivers State or elsewhere in Nigeria on the date(s) aforesaid or any other date(s) pending the hearing and determination of the application for interim injunction already filed herein.

“It is further ordered that the application for notice and the interim injunction including this injunction be promptly served on the respondents by alternative means, namely by publication in a national newspaper having a wide circulation in Rivers State.”

The court also ordered that the applicants pay the defendants damages in the amount determined if it turns out that the application was not serious.

The case was adjourned to 1 August 2024 for the hearing of the application for notification.

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