Court restrains PDP govs, NWC, others from dissolving pro-Wike excos in Rivers
The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), preventing its governors, National Working Committee, and Board of Trustees from dissolving the party’s Executive Committees in Rivers State.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on Wednesday, the court also prohibited the formation of any interim committees to replace officials loyal to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
This decision was made in response to an ex-parte application filed by the PDP Rivers State Executive Committee, led by Aaron Chukwuemeka.
The plaintiffs, including Chukwuemeka, Oye Fubara Igenewari, and ThankGod Bekee, alleged that the defendants were secretly attempting to dissolve the legally constituted state, local government, and ward executive committees of the party. They claimed that the defendants were plotting to establish interim committees to take over their functions.
Justice Lifu emphasised that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must refrain from recognising any entities other than those elected in the recent party elections in Rivers State.
“On no ground shall the tenure of the Rivers PDP executive committees at the state, local governments, and wards be truncated by the defendants,” he ruled.
In the ex-parte motion argued by Dr. Joshua Musa (SAN) on behalf of the plaintiffs, they alleged that the defendants were making clandestine moves to dissolve the legally constituted PDP executive committees in Rivers State. They further claimed that the defendants and the PDP governors were attempting to install interim committees to replace them.
The plaintiffs argued that unless restrained, they would suffer injustice and losses. After reviewing the evidence presented, Justice Lifu issued an order restraining INEC from accepting or recognizing any individuals or groups other than those elected at the state, local government, and ward elections of the PDP in Rivers State.
The court also ordered the PDP national body and others not to tamper with or dissolve the local government and ward leadership of the PDP in the state, who were elected this year at various party congresses.
In a formal order, Justice Lifu stated that “on no ground shall the tenure of the Rivers PDP executive committees at the state, local governments, and wards be truncated by the defendants.”
He further mandated that the defendants must not permit any other group or individuals to perform the duties and functions of the PDP officers elected between July 37 and August 31, 2024.
The court’s order also requires the PDP national body to refrain from interfering with the leadership elected at various congresses this year. The hearing for the motion on notice has been scheduled for October 4, 2024.
