PDP crisis: Court extends order stopping party from suspending, expelling Wike

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, restated its earlier order stopping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from suspending or expelling Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, from the party.

The judge, James Omotosho, had on 2 February issued the restraining order against the party in a ruling on an ex parte application filed by Mr Wike.

At the resumption of the suit on Tuesday, the judge ordered parties in the suit not to take steps that would render the court’s judgement “worthless.”

“The order of this court made on 2 February, 2023, is hereby extended till the hearing and determination of the substantive suit,” Mr Omotosho restated his order.

In the suit, Mr Wike urged the court to protect his fundamental human rights by restraining the PDP; its National Working Committee; National Executive Committee; National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, and the PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu – from carrying out its threat to either suspend or expel him from the party.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Mr Wike’s lawyer, Joshua Musa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), acknowledged receipt of court filings from the PDP

“We were served (with court processes) on 10 February. So, we are within time to respond to them. We will respond to the processes filed,” Mr Musa informed the court.

Responding to the judge’s order, PDP’s lawyer, Johnson Usman, a SAN, promised, “We will not tamper with the res (subject matter of the case pending its determination).” Punch