Justice Peter Lifu, from the Federal High Court in Abuja, said that the Department of State Service (DSS), Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and others can’t stop the elections for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State.
The elections, called Congresses, are where people will choose new leaders for the PDP in the wards, local governments, and the whole state of Rivers.
These elections will also pick special delegates, as stated in the PDP’s rules, timelines, and plans for 2024.
On Tuesday, Justice Lifu gave a ruling. He said the PDP, their acting national chairman Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum, National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and National Organizing Secretary Hon. Umar Bature should go ahead with these elections as planned.
However, the judge told the PDP and the national leaders to follow the rules and schedule for 2024 carefully until a final decision is made in court.
Justice Lifu also said that only those who filled out the nomination forms on time can run for these positions until a final ruling is made.
Six PDP members asked for this decision, and the judge agreed. He said they must promise to pay any damages if the court later finds out the order was wrong.
Justice Lifu set August 15 as the date for all involved parties to come to court and present their defenses.
A certified order, signed by Justice Lifu and court official Mrs. Awase Igba on July 23, 2024, showed that Senior Advocate of Nigeria, K. C. O. Njemanze SAN, argued for the six PDP members.
Our reporter saw that Hon. Aaron Chukwuemeka, the current Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of PDP in Rivers State, supported the request.
The six PDP members are Hon Aaron Chukwuemeka, Dr. Benibo George, Solomon Ogbonna, Lenebari Inaania, Enia Harris, and ThankGod Owhorji.
The defendants in this case are the PDP, Damagum, Anyanwu, Bature, INEC, Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police for Rivers State, the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), and the DSS.