A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a motion filed by loyalists of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyeosom Wike, seeking to appeal a judgment that nullified the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) congresses in Rivers State.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The congresses, which were conducted in defiance of a pending court order, had produced Chukwuemka Aaron and others as the party’s state executives. However, Justice Stephen Jumbo had on January 13, 2025, nullified the congresses in a suit filed by William Fialasoika and 24 others against the PDP.
In a ruling delivered yesterday, Justice Jumbo dismissed the motion filed by Chukwuemka Aaron, Oye Fubara Igenewari, and Thankgod Beke, seeking leave to appeal the judgment as interested parties. The court held that the PDP, as the defendant, had already filed an appeal against the judgment nullifying the congresses.
It would be recalled that the initial judgment had sacked the executives of the PDP in Rivers State, who are core loyalists of Minister Wike. The court’s decision had been rejected by the Wike camp, which described it as “a travesty of justice” and “a kangaroo judgment.” They argued that the congresses were conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution.
The latest development is seen as a significant setback for the Wike camp, which had hoped to overturn the judgment and retain control of the PDP in Rivers State.