Court orders DSS, Police, INEC, others not to stop PDP congresses in Rivers

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Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Service (DSS), police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and seven others not to stop or disrupt People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ward and local government congresses in Rivers state.

The upcoming congresses will elect new officers to oversee the PDP’s business at the ward, LG, and state levels in Rivers State.

The congresses will also elect ad hoc and national delegates, as defined in the constitution, guidelines, amended calendar, and activity plan for 2024.

Delivering a ruling on an ex-parte application filed by six PDP members in Rivers State, Justice Lifu directed the PDP, Acting National Chairman Iliya Damagum; National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu; and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature to carry out the congresses as scheduled.

The judge, on the other hand, ordered the PDP and the three national officers to strictly adhere to and honour the provisions of the guidelines, adjusted timetable, and schedule of activities 2024, which had been duly issued and published, pending the determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed in conjunction with the motion ex parte.

Justice Lifu also prohibited the PDP and the three national officers from allowing anyone who did not obtain a nomination form or ad-hoc form within the time frame specified in the guideline to run for any elective office of the PDP, ad-hoc or national delegates position pending the outcome of the motion on notice already filed.

The judge granted the request of the six PDP members who filed the application ex-parte and ordered them to agree into a new promise to compensate the defendants, which would be assessed by the court if the court determined by the end of the day that it had been deceived into granting the restraining orders.

Justice Lifu then set August 15 as the date for all parties in the motion on notice to come before him to defend themselves.

The ex-parte application was submitted by six PDP members: Aaron Chukwuemeka, Benibo George, Solomon Ogbonna, Lenebari Inaania, Enia Harris, and ThankGod Owhorji.