Court bars PDP from conducting congress in Rivers

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Tuesday, barred the Peoples Democratic Party from conducting its congress in the state.

The court gave the order in a suit PHC/2282/CS/2024 filed by Hon. David Chiinedu Omereji, Hon. Prince Solomon Eke, Isodoye Tobin, Goddy Manfred Pepple, Okiah Precious Chigozirim, Hon. Orolosama Peter Amachree, Goodfriday Nweke, Alfred Letam, Hon. Wechie Ndubisi Raymond, Mrs. Erebie Michael and Hon. Ogenma Idalunimulu against PDP, the party’s National Chairman, National Financial Secretary, and the National Organising Secretary.

The trial judge, Justice Sobere Biambo, followed an originating summons and ex-parte filed by the aggrieved members of the party.

The judge ruled, “Pursuant to this action filed on July 15, 2024, by way of an originating summons and a motion ex-parte praying this Honourable Court for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants and each of them by themselves, servants, agents, assigns or otherwise from holding or carrying out the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Congress in Rivers State fixed today to determine the application before His Lordship, Hon. Justice Sobere Biambo sitting at High Court 13, Port Harcourt.

“After hearing the submissions of the learned counsel for the claimants/applicants, Eberechi Adiele, SAN appearing with S.O.Orlu, Esq.

“It is ordered: That an order of interim injunction is hereby issued restraining the defendants and each of them, either by themselves servant, agents, assigns or otherwise however from holding or carrying out the People Democratic Party Congress in Rivers or be rescheduled to be held on any other date or any other location.

“An order interim is hereby issued stopping or suspending the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Congress in Rivers State scheduled to hold in Rivers State on July 27, 2024, or to be held on any other date or any other location pending the determination of the motion on notice already filed.

“That an order interim is hereby issued restraining the defendants by themselves, servants, agents or otherwise, however, from taking any decision or giving any directive to further extend the already expired tenure of the last State, Local Government and Ward Executive Officers of the People Democratic Party in Rivers State.”

The court, however, adjourned till the 19th of July, for the motion on notice already filed.