The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied reports that it has lodged an appeal against the ruling of a Rivers State High Court at the commencement of the suit by Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024, relating to a restraining order.
The stand of the party was repeated in a Sunday statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.
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The attention of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a purported appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division with respect to Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024 wherein the PDP is reportedly listed as Appellant.”
The PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, also confirmed the party’s stance, adding, “We categorically state that the PDP did not file the said appeal at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division.
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The statement emphasized that the party’s legal matters are exclusively handled by the National Legal Adviser, encompassing its organs, chapters, and officials. “This authority is established under Section 42 of the PDP’s Constitution (as amended in 2017),” Ajibade stated.
Ologunagba reiterated a public notice issued on January 17, 2023. “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.”
The notice further specifies that any such engagement requires written authorization from the National Legal Adviser, outlining details of the case and relevant terms.
“The PDP has distanced itself from the unauthorized appeal and maintains its position on the ongoing court case in Rivers State,” Ologunagba emphasized.
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Port Harcourt, recently dismissed two appeals instituted by the sacked Local Government Chairmen loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The appeals, marked CA/PH/137M/2024 and CA/PH/145M/2024, were filed by the former Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro LGA, Enyiada Cookey-Gam, and six others, challenging the High Court’s decisions regarding the elongation of their tenure.
