*Nigeria: Court Restrains PDP from Dissolving Pro-Wike Excos in Rivers*

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has issued a restraining order preventing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), and the Board of Trustees (BoT) from dissolving the Executive Committees of the PDP in Rivers State, which are aligned with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The court’s decision, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Peter Lifu, also bars the PDP from constituting any interim committees to replace the existing state, local government, and ward executive officers loyal to Wike.

This move is seen as a blow to attempts by some factions of the party to shift control of the Rivers State chapter away from Wike and his allies.

The ruling followed an ex parte application brought by Aaron Chukwuemeka, chairman of the Rivers State PDP Executive Committee, along with Oye Igenewari and ThankGod Bekee, representing the local governments and ward executives, respectively.

The plaintiffs, in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1396/2024, sought to prevent their removal by national party leaders, alleging clandestine moves to dissolve the duly constituted executives.

In response to their arguments, Justice Lifu reviewed the evidence provided and ordered that no action be taken by the PDP leadership to dissolve or replace the current executives at the state, local government, and ward levels in Rivers State.

He also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognize any other group apart from those elected in the state, local government, and ward congresses held between July 27 and August 31, 2024.

The court’s decision comes amid ongoing tensions between Wike, a former Rivers State governor, and the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. The dispute centers on who should control the party’s structure in Rivers State, with Wike’s influence still strong despite his exit from the governorship.

Current Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, backed by some PDP governors, has been pushing to take control of the party in the state, a move that has created a major rift within the party.

PDP governors, seven of whom are reportedly in favor of removing PDP’s acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, have demanded the cancellation of the congresses that placed Wike’s loyalists in control. They argue that as the incumbent governor, Fubara should be recognized as the party’s leader in Rivers State.

The court has scheduled a hearing for the main case on October 4, 2024, while the interim restraining orders remain in place, ensuring that Wike’s loyalists maintain their positions until the legal issues are fully resolved.