Court halts PDP NWC, Govs, BoT from dissolving pro-Wike River state EXCOs

An Abuja Federal High Court has issued an injunction preventing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, the National Working Committee (NWC), and the Board of Trustees (BoT) from dissolving the Executive Committee in Rivers State.

This decision follows an ex-parte application brought forward by members of the Rivers PDP EXCO, who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Wike is currently in a power tussle with the Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara.

Justice Peter Lifu delivered the ruling, instructing that neither the PDP national body nor any other faction should interfere with the functions of the elected state, local government, and ward officials of the Rivers PDP.

The judge emphasized that the executive committee’s tenure must not be terminated prematurely.

The plaintiffs in this case include Aaron Chukwuemeka, Oye Fubara Igenewari, and ThankGod Bekee, representing various levels of the PDP executive committee.

They allege that there were covert plans by the PDP governors and other defendants to dissolve the state leadership and install interim committees.

The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing any other leadership in Rivers State apart from those elected between July 27 and August 31, 2024.

The hearing on this motion is scheduled for October 4, 2024, with the court instructing the plaintiffs to indemnify the defendants should it be found that the restraining order should not have been granted.