A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued an interim injunction restraining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its suspended National Vice Chairman for the South-South, Dan Orbih, from proceeding with the party’s South-South Zonal Congress, originally scheduled for Saturday, 22 February 2025, in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Presiding Judge, Justice G.V. Obomanu, ruled in favour of the claimants following submissions by their counsel, Emeka D.A. Ojoko.
The court directed the defendants, their agents, and representatives to cease all preparations for the congress until the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for an Interlocutory Injunction.
Additionally, the court ordered all parties involved to maintain the status quo as of 20 February 2025, pending further proceedings.
The court also granted the claimants permission to serve legal documents on the PDP and Orbih through substituted means, including displaying notices at the South-South Zonal Headquarters in Port Harcourt and publishing the notice in a widely circulated national newspaper.
The case has been adjourned until 28 February 2025 for a hearing on the Motion on Notice.
This ruling temporarily suspends the PDP’s internal electoral process in the South-South region, raising uncertainties about the party’s leadership structure in the zone.
When contacted by Channels Television, Mr Friday Nkor, one of the claimants, confirmed that he filed the case to ensure compliance with directives from the party’s National Executive, which had instructed that the South-South Zonal Congress should not proceed on 22 February 2025.
He clarified, “We are not opposed to the congress taking place, but as of now, only the North-East and South-East congresses have been approved. I must also stress that this matter is purely a party issue and has no connection to Governor Fubara or the FCT Minister.”