The Rivers State faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denounced a recent court ruling that nullified its congresses, labeling it a “kangaroo judgment.”
In a press statement released on Tuesday, the PDP Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Dr. Kenneth Yowika, announced that the party’s legal team is scrutinizing the judgment and intends to file an appeal promptly.
This development follows a ruling by the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, which invalidated the ward, local government, and state congresses conducted by the PDP in 2024. Justice Stephen Jumbo issued an interlocutory injunction restraining the executives who emerged from these congresses from functioning as officers of the PDP in the state.
The court’s decision was in response to a suit filed by two Port Harcourt-based lawyers, Edwin Woko and Love Otuonye, along with two other party members. They contended that the congresses, held on July 27, August 10, and August 31, 2024, were conducted in violation of a court injunction issued on July 16, 2024, which had barred the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from organizing congresses pending the determination of the originating summons.
The claimants sought an order to nullify the congresses and restrain the resulting executives from acting as the party’s leadership in the state. Justice Jumbo upheld their prayers, nullifying the congresses and restraining the affected individuals from parading themselves as PDP executives in Rivers State.
This ruling is perceived as a setback for the faction loyal to Nyesom Wike amid ongoing political tensions in Rivers State. The PDP’s decision to appeal indicates that the legal battle over the party’s leadership in the state is far from over.
Peoplesmind
