In a move that has raised eyebrows and sparked controversy, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has gone ahead with its ward congresses, defying two court orders that sought to stop the exercise.
The congresses, which were held on Saturday, saw party members gathering at the PDP Secretariat along Aba Road in Port Harcourt to collect materials for distribution to their various wards.
The PDP in Rivers State has been embroiled in a bitter power struggle in recent weeks, with different factions vying for control of the party.
The ward congresses were meant to elect new party leaders at the grassroots level, but the exercise has been marred by controversy and legal challenges.
Two court orders had been obtained by rival factions, seeking to stop the congresses and halt the party’s electoral process.
This was as a Rivers State High Court, presided over by Justice Charles Wali on Friday, restrained the PDP, its National Chairman Iliya Damagum, and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, or their agents, from gathering anywhere in Rivers State to hold ward, local government, and state congresses until the court hears and determines the suit before it.
The suit was filed by PDP members from each of the 23 Local Government Areas, challenging the conduct of the Congress.
Earlier within the month, Justice Sobere Hambo, had also issued a similar restraining order in a suit filed by David Omereji and 10 others against the PDP, its national chairperson, national financial secretary, and national organizing secretary.
The order reads in part, “An interim order is hereby issued stopping or suspending the PDP congress in Rivers State scheduled to hold on July 27 or any other date or location pending the determination of the motion on notice already filed.”
However, following the restraining order issued by Justice Biambo’s court, another Federal High Court sitting in Abuja issued a counter-order allowing the PDP to proceed with the exercise.
Justice Peter Lifu in his ruling, barred the Department of State Services, the police, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and seven others from “stopping, truncating, or disrupting” the congresses.
The PDP congresses are scheduled to commence on July 27 across the country with ward congresses, followed by local government congresses on August 26, and state congresses in September.
It was learnt that the exercise took place in From. Khana, Obio Akpor, and Ahoada East, among other LGAs
However, the party leadership has chosen to ignore these orders, sparking a new wave of legal battles within the party and state.
Rivers PDP Forges Ahead With Ward Congresses Amidst Controversy is first published on The Whistler Newspaper