Rivers Crisis: Drama As PDP Denies Court Case Against Top Officials As Fubara, Wike Camps Clash

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has clarified that an appeal filed at the Port Harcourt Appeal Court Division did not originate from the party.

Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, stated that the appeal, marked Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024, in the Rivers State Appeal Court Division, was not authorized by the PDP.

Ologunagba emphasized that only the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), has the authority to file suits on behalf of the PDP.

The appeal in question challenges an order from the Rivers State High Court that restrains the Chief Judge of Rivers State and the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly from receiving or acting on resolutions from certain individuals pending the determination of a case before it.

In a statement on Sunday, Ologunagba clarified, “For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP National Legal Adviser, Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN, has confirmed that the party did not file the said appeal nor did it authorize any external solicitor to file it on its behalf. Therefore, the PDP cannot be listed as an appellant in the appeal.

“The PDP states categorically that it did not file the said appeal at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, challenging the order of the Rivers State High Court restraining the Chief Judge of Rivers State and the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly from receiving or acting on any resolutions from certain individuals pending the determination of a case before it.

“The PDP reiterates that only the National Legal Adviser of the party has the exclusive responsibility for conducting litigation, prosecution, and defense of cases on behalf of the party, including its organs, chapters, and officials, as expressly provided for in Section 42 of the PDP’s Constitution (as amended in 2017).”

Ologunagba added, “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. Such engagement must also be in writing under the hand of the National Legal Adviser, specifying, among other things, the nature of the case and other terms and conditions of the engagement.

“The PDP, therefore, dissociates itself from the purported appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, in connection with Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024.”

This case came amid the ongoing clash between lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. Legislators from the opposing camps are claiming legitimacy to function as the authentic lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly as the political crisis lingers.