PDP clarifies stance on Rivers court case, denies appeal

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has refuted claims of filing an appeal in an ongoing court case within Rivers State.

The case, identified by Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024, involves a restraining order issued by the Rivers State High Court.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, confirmed this in a statement on Sunday.

The PDP said, “The attention of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a purported Appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division with respect to Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024 wherein the PDP is reportedly listed as Appellant.”

The PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, also confirmed the party’s stance in the statement, adding, “We categorically state that the PDP did not file the said appeal at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division.”

The statement further clarifies that the party’s legal matters are handled exclusively by the National Legal Adviser, encompassing its organs, chapters, and officials.

“This authority is established under Section 42 of the PDP’s Constitution (as amended in 2017),” he said.

Ologunagba reiterated a public notice issued on January 17, 2023.

“Our Party had in a Public Notice published on January 17, 2023, notified the public that nobody, Authority, Office or Organ other than the National Legal Adviser has the competence to file or engage external solicitors to file or handle cases on behalf of the Party.

“The notice further specifies that any such engagement requires written authorization from the National Legal Adviser, outlining details of the case and relevant terms.

“The PDP has distanced itself from the unauthorized appeal and maintains its position on the ongoing court case in Rivers State ,” Ologunagba emphasised.

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Port Harcourt, dismissed two appeals instituted by the sacked Local Government Chairmen loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The appeals, marked CA/PH/137M/2024 and CA/PH/145M/2024, were filed by the former Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro LGA, Enyiada Cookey-Gam, and six others, challenging the decisions of the High Court regarding the elongation of their tenure.