—
A High Court in Rivers State, located in Port Harcourt, has made a decision to stop the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding meetings to pick new leaders at different levels in Rivers State. These meetings are called congresses, and they were planned to happen in Wards, Local Government Areas, and the whole state. This stoppage will last until the court listens to and decides on a complaint made by real party members from different areas in the state.
Judge Charles Wali, who gave this order to stop, also told the top police officer in Nigeria (Inspector General of Police) and in Rivers State, the boss of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the head of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to make sure this order is followed.
The court will meet again on August 1, 2024, to talk more about this case.
Not long ago, on a Tuesday, a different court, the Federal High Court in Abuja, told PDP in Rivers State to go ahead with its planned meetings. Judge Peter Lifu, who made this decision, instructed groups like DSS, Police, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to stop these meetings.
The goal of these meetings is to elect new leaders who will manage the PDP at different levels in Rivers State.
Judge Lifu also said that PDP must follow the rules they set earlier and stick to the new timetable until the court decides on a request made by another party member to put these meetings on hold.
He also said that only those who filled in a form in time could run for any position in these meetings until another decision is made.
The court will talk more about this on August 15, where everyone involved will explain their sides.
Before Judge Lifu’s ruling, another Rivers State High Court already told PDP not to have its meetings on July 27, 2024.
Judge Sobere Hambo made this decision after David Omereji, the temporary leader of Emohua Local Government Area, and 10 other people complained against the PDP leaders.
—
With this rewrite, even a young child can understand what’s going on with the courts and the political party in Rivers State.