Court extends order stopping PDP from suspending, expelling Wike

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, reiterated its earlier order stopping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from suspending or expelling the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, from the party.

The judge, James Omotosho, had on February 2 issued a restraining order against the party in the decision on the ex parte application filed by Mr. Wike.

In resuming the suit on Tuesday, the judge ordered the parties to the suit to refrain from taking any steps that would render the court’s decision “null and void.”

“The order of this court which was made on February 2, 2023, is extended until the trial and determination of the substantive claim,” Mr. Omotosho reiterated his order.

In the suit, Mr. Wike asked the court to protect human rights by restraining the PDP; National Working Committee; National Executive Committee; The National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, and the PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu – from carrying out threats to suspend or expel them from the party.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Mr. Wike’s lawyer, Joshua Musa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), acknowledged receipt of the court filing from the PDP.

“We were served (with the court process) on February 10. So, we have time to respond. We will respond to the process submitted,” Mr. Musa told the court.

Reacting to the judge’s order, the PDP lawyer, Johnson Usman, SAN, promised, “We will not spoil the res (the subject of the pending case).”

At Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) represented by MA Bawa.

According to the agreement of the lawyers in the case, the judge adjourned the suit until March 6 to hear all pending applications and important matters.

The background

Mr. Wike has been at loggerheads with PDP leaders, shortly after losing the party’s presidential primaries last May.

Governor Rivers heads the G5, a group of five PDP governors who are not happy with the party leadership.

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The G-5 governors include – Nyesom Wike (Sungai), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpaeazu (Abia) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo).

After Atiku Abubakar emerged as the PDP presidential standard bearer, the G5 governors have continuously demanded the resignation of the party’s national chairman, Mr. Ayu, who hails from northern Nigeria as Atiku.

He complained about the dominance of party leaders in the north.

But Mr. Ayu still insisted on resigning his position.

Due to the recent suspension of some PDP members sympathetic to the G-5 cause, Mr. Wike presented the case against the background of the rumored plan by the PDP to either suspend or expel him from the party.