The Abia State High Court, Bende Judicial Division, presided over by Justice C.U. Okoroafor, has reiterated that its earlier order barring the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from conducting state, local government, and ward congresses in the state remains in effect.
The court order, issued on October 25, follows a suit marked HB/3/2024 filed by Francis Etuzu, Chidindu Kalu Kalu, and Enyinnaya Ogbu.
In addition to reaffirming the subsisting order, the court directed that contempt proceedings be served on the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; the Abia PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Alwell Asiforo Okere; and the committee’s Secretary, Kenneth Madubuike.
The defendants listed in the suit include the PDP (excluding the claimants), the National Chairman of the PDP, the PDP National Financial Secretary, the PDP National Organizing Secretary, and the PDP National Legal Adviser.
The court order stated in part:
“That leave be and is hereby granted to the Claimants/Applicants to serve Forms 48, 49, and all other processes in respect of contempt proceedings in this suit on the Defendants, i.e., Senator Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary, PDP), Alwell Asiforo Okere (Chairman, Caretaker Committee Abia State PDP), and Kenneth Madubuike (Secretary, Caretaker Committee, Abia PDP) by substituted means, by delivering the same to any adult inmate in the PDP Abia Secretariat at Onyerobi Close, off House of Assembly Road, Umuahia, Abia State, or by pasting the same at the PDP Abia State Secretariat at Onyerobi Close, off House of Assembly Road, Umuahia, and/or by electronic means via each of the party’s personal WhatsApp phone numbers.”
The court reminded all parties that the order issued on July 23, 2024, restraining the PDP from conducting congresses, remains valid until the substantive matter is resolved.
The claimants had initially obtained the July 23 order barring the PDP from holding its ward congress, which was originally scheduled for July 27.
The court also halted any attempts to extend the tenure of the State Working Committee (SWC) led by Alwell Asiforo Okere.
The order further restrained the PDP from organizing or rescheduling congresses pending the outcome of the motion on notice filed by the claimants.
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