Court Didn’t Stop PDP’s S’South Zonal Caretaker Committee – CP-PDP

The Conference of Professionals in the Peoples Democratic Party (CP-PDP) has said the Federal High Court in Abuja did not stop the functioning of the South South Zonal Caretaker Committee appointed by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP.

The Conference said the order of the High Court, Abuja cannot have a retroactive effect on the party as it was issued during the working hours of Monday, March 10, 2025, after the appointment and assumption of office of the Chief Emmanuel Ogidi-led seven-member Zonal Caretaker Committee appointed in line with the provisions of the PDP Constitution.

Protem national coordinator of CP-PDP, Barr. Obinna Nwachukwu, said the Ogidi-led Zonal Caretaker Committee was appointed on Friday, March 7, 2025 and effectively assumed office at 1:00 am of Monday, March 10, 2025, following the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past Zonal Executive at 12 midnight of Sunday, March 9, 2025.

“Moreso, the NWC appointed the Zonal Caretaker Committee in compliance with an Order of the High Court of Bayelsa State which in suit No BYHC/YHC/CV/99/2025 ordered the Party to constitute the South South Zonal Caretaker Committee so as to avoid a vacuum at the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past Zonal Executive at 12 midnight of Sunday, 9th March 2025.

“For further elucidation, it is also trite law that a Court Order cannot restrain or undo an action that has already taken place. The purpose of a Court Order is to prevent an action and not to reverse a completed act. It is also trite law that a Court cannot sit on or set aside a decision of another Court of concurrent jurisdiction.

“The import is that the appointment and assumption of office of the Ogidi-led Zonal Caretaker Committee are completed acts and cannot be reversed by an Order of Court of concurrent jurisdiction.

“Moreover, the appointment, composition and functioning of the Ogidi-led South South Zonal Caretaker Committee was not part of the matter before the High Court holden in Abuja and does not expressly form part of the reliefs sought by the litigants.”

The Conference further cautioned against the resort to misrepresentation of the position of the Court by certain individuals who by all indications seek to cause confusion and derail the smooth running of the duly constituted South South Zonal Caretaker Committee of the PDP.

The CP-PDP also reassured of its unalloyed commitment and dedication towards the unity, stability and growth of the PDP and democracy in Nigeria.