Rivers Court Rejects Bid to Restrain PDP Chairman, Orders Hearing

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has declined an ex parte application filed by Edwin Woko, Nelson Dike, and two others seeking to restrain the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Rivers State Chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka, and other state executives from parading themselves as party leaders.

Presiding over the matter, Justice Stephen Jumbo refused to grant the motion and instead directed the plaintiffs to notify Chukwuemeka, the PDP National Chairman, and other respondents.

The judge further instructed the respondents to appear in court to justify why the motion should not be granted.

The case was adjourned to December 10, 2024, for the hearing of the substantive motion.

Speaking to journalists after the session, counsel for the plaintiffs, Bruno Mbaeri, highlighted the legal foundation of the application.

One of the plaintiffs, Edwin Woko, in an interview with Newsmen, alleged that PDP stakeholders in Rivers State had on September 28 inaugurated an interim leadership structure with him as the chairman.

The interim group, comprising Woko, Erien Naikachep Maurice, Nelson Ndubuisi, and Nyebuchi Dike, was reportedly established to act as the party’s leaders until a new congress is held.

Woko further claimed that the congress that produced Chukwuemeka and his executive committee violated an existing court order, making it illegal.

“Our application before Justice Jumbo is explicit. We are asking the court to restrain Aaron Chukwuemeka and his co-travelers from parading themselves as the executives of the Rivers State PDP,” Woko said.

He argued that the tenure of Chukwuemeka’s leadership had expired and called for the party to hold an inclusive congress, adding, “My exco, led by Edwin Woko, is the valid and authentic executive of the Rivers State PDP.”

InfoStride News recalls that the PDP went ahead with its congresses in Rivers State despite an interim injunction prohibiting the exercises.