Rivers Crisis: Court Blocks PDP Governors, NWC from Dissolving Pro-Wike EXCOs

A court has halted attempts by PDP governors and the National Working Committee (NWC) to dissolve the pro-Wike executive committees in Rivers State. Learn more about the legal battle and its political impact.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a directive prohibiting the Governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), along with its National Working Committee (NWC) and Board of Trustees (BoT), from dissolving or interfering with the Executive Committees of the party in Rivers State.

This ruling effectively bars the PDP from establishing interim committees to replace officials aligned with Governor Wike at the state, local government, and ward levels in Rivers.

The court’s order was a response to an ex-parte application submitted by the PDP Rivers State Executive Committee, headed by Aaron Chukwuemeka, along with other executives from local government and ward levels.

Justice Lifu determined that the national leadership of the PDP must not disrupt the governance of the state, local government, and ward executives, who were legitimately elected during party congresses held earlier this year.

The court’s ruling safeguards the tenures of the Rivers PDP Executive Committees, thwarting any efforts by the national body or other entities to supplant the current leadership with interim committees.

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The judge explicitly instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refrain from acknowledging any individuals or groups other than those elected between July 27 and August 31, 2024.

The plaintiffs, represented by their attorney Joshua Musa, alleged that the PDP governors and NWC were conspiring to unlawfully dissolve the state, local government, and ward executives in Rivers State. They contended that such actions would lead to injustice and detriment for the rightful executives.

In granting the restraining order, Justice Lifu mandated the plaintiffs to submit an undertaking to indemnify the defendants should it later be determined that the order was issued without sufficient justification.

The hearing regarding the motion filed by the plaintiffs is set for October 4, 2024, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal dispute within the PDP in Rivers State.