The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently holding ward congresses across various wards in Rivers State, despite two court orders prohibiting the exercise.
At the PDP Secretariat on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, party members were seen collecting materials for the congress in their respective wards. They subsequently departed to their councils with the materials.
On Friday, Justice Charles Wali issued an order prohibiting the party, its National Chairman Iliya Damagum, National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and their agents from holding ward, local government, and state congresses in Rivers State until the court resolves the ongoing suit. This suit was filed by PDP members from each of the 23 Local Government Areas, challenging the conduct of the congress.
The judge also directed the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, the Director-General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to enforce the order.
Earlier this month, Justice Sobere Biambo issued an interim order in response to a suit filed by David Omereji and 10 others against the PDP and its national officials, stopping the PDP congress in Rivers State pending the determination of the motion on notice.
However, following this, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a counter-order allowing the PDP to proceed with the activities. Justice Peter Lifu barred the DSS, police, Independent National Electoral Commission, and seven others from disrupting the congresses.
As a result, there are currently three conflicting orders regarding the planned congresses of the PDP in Rivers State. Two orders from the High Court in Rivers State halted the congresses, while the Federal High Court order allowed the PDP to proceed.
The congresses are scheduled to commence on July 27 with ward congresses, followed by local government congresses on August 26, and state congresses in September. These congresses aim to elect new officers to manage the PDP at the ward, local government, and state levels in Rivers State.
