Court Orders INEC to Recognize Pro-Wike Executives in Rivers, Bars PDP Govs from Interference

The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors, National Working Committee, and Board of Trustees from tampering with or dissolving the Executive Committees of the party in Rivers State.

The court also barred them from constituting any interim committee to replace the officers loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The PDP Rivers State Executive Committee, led by Aaron Chukwuemeka, filed an ex-parte application (FHC/ABJ/CS/1396/2024) against the PDP, Umar Damagun, Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature, NWC, NEC, BOT, INEC, and Alhaji Bala Mohammed of Governors Forum.

The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants were making clandestine moves to dissolve the legally constituted state, local governments, and wards executives committees of PDP in Rivers State.

Justice Peter Lifu issued an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or recognizing any person or groups other than those elected at the state, local governments, and wards elections of the PDP in Rivers State. The judge also ordered the PDP national body and others not to tamper with or dissolve the local governments and ward leadership of the PDP in the state.

The development comes amidst differences between former governor Nyesom Wike and his successor Siminalayi Fubara over the control of the political structure in the state.