Court restrains PDP National Chairman, others from holding congress in Rivers

Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court has issued an interim injunction restraining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with its planned congresses in the state.

The order, pending the determination of the motion on notice, was issued in response to a suit marked PHC/2400/CS/2024 filed by 21 members of the PDP in Rivers State.

The court halted the congresses scheduled by the party to take place in the wards, 23 local government areas, and the state on July 27, August 10, and August 31, 2024, respectively.

Named as first, second and third sets of defendants in the matter were PDP; National Chairman, Amb. Iliya Damagun; party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Organising Secretary, Umar Nature and the party’s National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyegikuro.

Others were Aaron Chukwuemeka, Dr. Benibo George, Solomon Ogbonna, Lenebari Inaania, Enia Harris, ThankGod Owhorji, Inspector-General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Director-General, State Security Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Recall that on July 16, Justice Sobere Bimbo of the Rivers State High Court restrained the PDP National Chairman and others from conducting Congresses in the state.

However, a week later Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered the Congress to proceed and restrained the security agencies from stopping or truncating the Congress.

The Court processes is a follow-up to the internal battle between the Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara and his predecessor, Ezenwo Wike over the control of the PDP in the state.