PDP Refutes Claims of Filing Appeal in Rivers State Court Case

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied reports of filing an appeal in an ongoing legal case in Rivers State. The case, identified by Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024, involves a restraining order issued by the Rivers State High Court.

In a statement on Sunday, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, clarified the party’s position. “The attention of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a purported Appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division with respect to Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024 wherein the PDP is reportedly listed as Appellant,” Ologunagba stated.

The PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, also confirmed that the party did not file any appeal at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division. He emphasized, “We categorically state that the PDP did not file the said appeal at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division.”

Ajibade further explained that legal matters for the party are exclusively managed by the National Legal Adviser, as outlined in Section 42 of the PDP’s Constitution (as amended in 2017). This provision ensures that no other organ, chapter, or official of the party has the authority to file legal cases or engage external solicitors without written authorization from the National Legal Adviser.

Ologunagba reiterated a public notice issued on January 17, 2023, which specified that only the National Legal Adviser can handle the party’s legal affairs. “Our Party had in a Public Notice published on January 17, 2023, notified the public that nobody, Authority, Office or Organ other than the National Legal Adviser has the competence to file or engage external solicitors to file or handle cases on behalf of the Party,” he said. The notice also required written authorization for any engagement detailing the case and relevant terms.

The PDP has distanced itself from the unauthorized appeal, maintaining its stance on the ongoing court case in Rivers State.

In a related development, the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt dismissed two appeals filed by sacked Local Government Chairmen loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The appeals, marked CA/PH/137M/2024 and CA/PH/145M/2024, were brought by the former Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro LGA, Enyiada Cookey-Gam, and six others, challenging High Court decisions regarding the elongation of their tenure.