Court Bans PDP Congresses In Rivers State

The High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has issued an injunction preventing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from conducting its congresses scheduled to commence tomorrow (Saturday) at the ward level.

In his ruling on Friday, Justice Charles Wali, forbade the party, its National Chairman, Iliya Damagum, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, or their representatives, from convening anywhere in Rivers State to carry out ward, local government, and state congresses until the court makes a decision on the pending case.

Naijaonpoint reports that the lawsuit was brought by at least one PDP member from each of the 23 Local Government Areas, contesting the organization of the Congress.

Ruling on the suit, Justice Wali instructed the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, the Director-General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to adhere to the court’s directive.

This marks the second court order from a Rivers State High Court halting the PDP’s planned congress in the state.

In a previous ruling earlier this month, Justice Sobere Biambo issued the initial order following a lawsuit filed by David Omereji and 10 others against the PDP, its national chairperson, national financial secretary, and national organizing secretary.

“An interim order is hereby issued stopping or suspending the PDP congress in Rivers State scheduled to hold on July 27 or any other date or location pending the determination of the motion on notice already filed,” the order stated.

However, in compliance with the initial order, a Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a counter-order permitting the PDP to carry on with its planned activities.

In this decision, Justice Peter Lifu has prohibited the Department of State Services, the police, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and seven others from interfering with the congresses.

Currently, there are three orders concerning the scheduled congresses of the PDP in Rivers State. Two of these orders, issued by a High Court in Rivers State, have put a stop to the congresses.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court order has given the green light for the PDP to proceed with its activities.

The congresses are set to kick off on July 27 with ward congresses, followed by local government congresses on August 26, and state congresses in September.

These congresses aim to elect new officials to oversee the operations of the PDP at the ward, local government, and state levels in Rivers State.