Court Halts PDP’s Move to Dissolve Rivers State Executive Committee

The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a ruling preventing the national body of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from dissolving the Rivers State Executive Committee due to alleged anti-party activities.

In the judgment, Justice Inyang Ekwo upheld the plaintiff, Mr. Desmond Akawo, who serves as the state executive committee’s chairman.

The judge found that the PDP and its national chairman did not dispute Akawo’s claims.

Consequently, Justice Ekwo granted all of Akawo’s requests and declared that the party and its national chairman cannot unilaterally dissolve the state’s executive committee, which was democratically elected for a four-year term. Additionally, an injunction was issued to prevent the appointment of an interim caretaker committee in the state until May 22, 2024.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also barred from recognizing any caretaker committee for the PDP in the state unless they were democratically elected and represented by Akawo in the suit.

Akawo’s lawsuit questioned the PDP’s right to terminate their term in light of constitutional and party constitution provisions, asserting that they were entitled to complete their four-year term, which concludes around May 22, 2024.

Akawo argued that the PDP and its national chairman had threatened to dissolve the Rivers State Executive Committee without prior queries or just cause. Therefore, he sought an injunction to protect their positions until the end of their term, among other relief measures.