Court Stops PDP From Holding Congresses In Rivers

Justice Charles Wali of the High Court of Justice of Rivers State has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from conducting any congress of the party in the state.

Justice Wali issued the order in response to an ex parte application filed by 21 state party members led by Ilaye Sunday Kitchen and Agile Handsome Ekelelchi after Emeka Ojoko, Esq., moved the motion on behalf of the applicants.

After hearing Ojoko’s submission, the judge held, “It is hereby ordered that an order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd sets of defendants, their agents, servants, assigns, privies, and hirelings from gathering in the 319 wards of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State in howsoever and whatsoever manner to conduct and/or from conducting the 1st defendant’s ward, local government, or State congresses.

“That an order of interim injunction is granted directing the 4th set of Defendants, their agents, servants, and privies to enforce and carry out the order(s) made herein by preventing the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defendants from organising, holding, or carrying out the 1st Defendant’s ward, Local Government, and State congresses in Rivers State or anywhere else in Nigeria on the above-mentioned dates or any other date(s), pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice

“It is further ordered that the motion on notice and the originating summons, including this order, be served on the Respondents immediately by substituted means, namely, publication in any national newspaper widely read in Rivers State.

“It is further ordered that the Applicants pay damages to the Respondents as may be assessed if this application is found to be frivolous,” the court ruled.

Defendants in the suit include the PDP Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary, Hon. Umar Bature, National Organising Secretary, and Mr. Daniel Woyegikuro, National Financial Secretary.

Other party leaders in the state include Hon. Aaron Chuk Wuemeka, Dr. Benibo George, Solomon Ogbonna, Lenebari Inaania, Enia Harris, and ThankGod Owhorji.

According to the originating summons, the plaintiff requests that the court prohibit the party’s national leadership from holding any congress in the state.

Meanwhile, the matter has been rescheduled for the 1st of August, 2024, to hear the motion on notice.