Court Renews Order Stopping Wike’s Expulsion From PDP

Justice John Kayode Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, has renewed its order granted on February 2, restraining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its leadership from taking steps to either suspend or expel Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike from the party.

The court renewed the order at the resumed hearing of the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/139/2023 filed by Governor Wike.

The governor is challenging among others, the propriety of the alleged threat by the leadership of the PDP to either suspend or expel him.

Listed as defendants in the suit are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP; the National Executive Council (NEC) of the PDP; its Chairman, Iyiocha Ayu; the national secretary, Anyanwu; and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

At the mention of the case on Tuesday, Wike’s lawyer, Joshua Musa (SAN) told the court that his client was served late on February 10 with documents filed by the defendants, including a notice of preliminary objection and counter affidavit to the plaintiff’s motion for interlocutory injunctions.

He said his client was still within time to respond to the documents served on him by the defendants. He sought an adjournment to that effect.

Lawyer to the defendants, the PDP, its National Working Committee (NWC), its National Executive Council (NEC), its Chairman, Iyiocha Ayu, and its national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu – Johnson Usman (SAN) did not object to an adjournment, but suggested that the court first hear his client’s notice of objection.