PDP NWC accepts judgment nullifying ‘Wike-backed’ congresses in Rivers

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has accepted the court verdict nullifying the congresses conducted in Rivers state in 2024.

BACKGROUND

On Monday, the Rivers state high court nullified the congresses conducted by the PDP in the state in 2024.

The court also restrained the state executive committee (SEC) of the PDP from overseeing the party’s affairs and barred Aaron Chukwuemeka from parading himself as the chairman.

Stephen Jumbo, the presiding judge, issued the order while ruling on an interlocutory injunction filed by Edwin Woko and Love Otuonye, both lawyers, along with two other PDP members.

The suit was instituted against Chukwuemeka and nine others.

The petitioners asked the court to declare the local government and ward congresses conducted in 2024 as null and void.

The congresses, held in the 319 wards and 23 LGAs in August 2024, were reportedly backed by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The applicants argued that the congresses were conducted in disregard of a court order issued in July 2024, which restrained the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from holding the exercise.

They urged the court to set aside the congresses and restrain Chukwuemeka and members of the state executive committee from acting as officials of the party.

The claimants also requested the court to recognise them as the authentic and subsisting members of the PDP state executive committee and direct the party’s national leadership to acknowledge them accordingly.

The judge granted the applicants’ prayers, nullifying the congresses and restraining Chukwuemeka and other respondents from acting as executives of the party in the state.

The court also recognised the applicants as the authentic and subsisting members of the Rivers state executive committee of the PDP.

‘WE ACCEPT THE COURT JUDGMENT’

In a statement issued on Thursday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, confirmed that the party’s NWC has accepted the court ruling.

Ologunagba stated that the PDP would now recognise the Nname Ewor-led SEC as the legitimate leadership of the party in Rivers State.

“Consequently, in line with the judgement of the court delivered on Monday, January 13, 2025, the NWC affirms the Hon. Nname Robinson Ewor-led Rivers State Executive to henceforth pilot the affairs of the PDP Rivers State chapter in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017),” the statement reads.

“The NWC commends the decision of the court, which reaffirms the PDP’s position as a bastion of transparency, due process, internal democracy, and strict adherence to the rule of law and party guidelines in the conduct of congresses and other activities.”

Ologunagba urged party members in Rivers to work with the Ewor-led SEC to “ensure the unity, stability, growth, and continued success of the PDP in the state”.

He also called on Ewor “to work towards uniting the party further, ensuring that the people of Rivers state continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy delivered by Governor Siminalayi Fubara in line with the PDP’s manifesto and policy thrust”.

Earlier on Thursday, police barricaded the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, amid reports that the sacked SEC and the newly recognised Ewor-led SEC were both preparing to resume duty.