PDP Distances Self From Rivers Appeal Court Case

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissociated itself from an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division on the unfolding political saga in Rivers State.

PDP said it neither filed nor authorised the filing of any appeal, challenging the Order of the Rivers State High Court restraining the Chief Judge of Rivers State and the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly from receiving or acting on any resolutions from certain individuals pending the determination of a case before it.

The political rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor and incumbent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, has since split the state House of Assembly, leading to raging legal battles.

Reacting to one of the legal battles, the national publicity secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba, said “The attention of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a purported Appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division with respect to Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024 wherein the PDP is reportedly listed as Appellant.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP National Legal Adviser, Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN has ascertained that the Party did not file the said Appeal neither did it authorise any external solicitor to file same on its behalf. As such, the PDP cannot be listed as Appellant in the Appeal.

“The PDP states categorically that it did not file the said Appeal at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division challenging the Order of the Rivers State High Court restraining the Chief Judge of Rivers State and the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly from receiving or acting on any resolutions from certain individuals pending the determination of a case before it.

“The PDP restates that only the National Legal Adviser of the Party has the exclusive responsibility of conducting the litigation, prosecution and defense of cases on behalf of the Party including its Organs, Chapters and Officials as expressly provided for in Section 42 of the PDP’s Constitution (as amended in 2017).

“Our Party had in a Public Notice published on January 17, 2023 notified the public that nobody, Authority, Office or Organ other than the National Legal Adviser has the competence to file or engage external solicitors to file or handle cases on behalf of the Party, which engagement must also be in writing under the hand of the National Legal Adviser specifying amongst other things, the nature of the case and other terms and conditions of the engagement.

“The PDP therefore dissociates itself from the purported Appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division in connection with Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024,” the statement said.