Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a ruling that prohibits the Governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), along with its National Working Committee (NWC) and Board of Trustees (BoT), from dismantling or interfering with the Executive Committees of the party in Rivers State.
The court’s decision also prevents these leaders from forming any interim committees to replace existing party officers at the state, local government, and ward levels who are aligned with Governor Wike in Rivers.
Justice Lifu made this determination while addressing an urgent application filed by the PDP Rivers State Executive Committee, headed by Aaron Chukwuemeka, along with representatives from local and ward committees.
Additionally, the judge mandated that the PDP’s national leadership must not dissolve or interfere with the local and ward leadership that was elected alongside the State Executive Committee during various party congresses this year.
In a formal order, the court stated that the tenure of the Rivers PDP Executive Committees at all levels must not be disrupted by the defendants under any circumstances.
Furthermore, the judge instructed that no alternative group should be allowed to assume the roles and responsibilities of the duly elected PDP Executives from the elections that took place between July 37 and August 31, 2024.
The plaintiffs, represented by their attorney Joshua Musa, claimed that the defendants were attempting to dissolve the legitimate state, local government, and ward executive committees of the PDP in Rivers and were making efforts to set up interim committees to take over their functions.
These plaintiffs contended that if the defendants were not restrained from these actions, they would face significant injustice and losses.
Upon reviewing the evidence presented by the plaintiffs, Justice Lifu also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing or accepting any individuals or groups other than those elected during the state, local government, and ward elections of the PDP in Rivers State.
Additionally, the judge has required the plaintiffs to submit a new undertaking to protect all defendants if the restraining orders issued were found to be unwarranted.
The hearing for the motion on notice filed by the plaintiffs against the nine defendants is scheduled for October 4, 2024.
