Parties’ Crises: When Chief Justice Buni Steps Down, Council Ward Exco Suspends Secondus

Ward 5 in Ikuru town, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State has suspended the embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus.

Party chairman George Christopher made the announcement yesterday at the extraordinary meeting of the party’s leadership, which was taking place at the party’s secretariat in Ikuru town.

The crisis ragging of the opposition party in Port Harcourt brought about the earlier suspension of a Secondus.

In a case involving Secondus, a pseudonym used by chairman and member of the PDP Secondus, Justice O. Gbasam of the Degema Judicial Division granted an interim injunction, which barred him from appearing publicly as chairman and member of the PDP.

A lawsuit filed by Ibeabuchi Ernest Alex, Dennis Nna Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen, and Umezirike Onucha (1st defendants) and the PDP had as its follow-up the consideration of an ex-parte application in suit number PHC/2183/CS/2021 (2nd defendant).

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After reading the affidavit, the judge granted the ex parte motion.

However, on the day after the High Court’s decision, the High Court in the state capital of Kebbi, Birnin Kebbi, reaffirmed the ruling and ordered Secondus to return to work immediately.

In her ruling, Justice Nusirat Umar studied the affidavit and written address in support of the ex parte application, and concluded that she was satisfied with the request for an interim injunction.

“The court is pleased to grant the second defendant, the PDP, Chairman First Respondent, the liberty to exercise all the constitutional powers as described in both the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and the party’s constitution as amended until the motion on notice is heard and finally decided,” she said.

Three concerned members of the party, represented by their counsel, Ibrahim Jibril, brought the suit.

He was, however, stopped from presiding over the National Executive Council meeting and parading himself as chairman of the party after a Cross River High Court issued an order halting his efforts.

Prince Secondus is a native of the town of Ikuru in Rivers State’s Andoni Local Government Area.

George Christopher, the chairman of Ward 5 Ikuru of the PDP, stated today that 11 of the 17 executive members of the ward supported the suspension of Ward 2’s leader, Secondus.

He reported that the ward executives of the party met on August 31, 2021, and discussed the issues that were impacting the party. He went on to say that the party executive committee subsequently decided to suspend Secondus as a result of the meeting.

While in a text message, Mr. Abonyi, who serves as a Special Adviser to Secondus on Media, clarified that he is not aware, but NEC of PDP only has the authority to suspend a national officer.

Buni’s bid to lead the LG group is aborted by the court.

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An APC local government congress in Asaba, the Delta State capital, has been suspended by the High Court, which is sitting in Asaba.

When a substantive suit comes before the court, the Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, will not parade as chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.