John Nwaigwe
A High Court in Rivers State, sitting in Port Harcourt, has removed Hon. Chukwuemeka Aaron as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, along with other party executives.
According to Politics Nigeria, Justice Stephen Jumbo, who delivered the judgment, also nullified the PDP’s congresses held at the ward, local government, and state levels in July 2024.
The judgment arose from a dispute over the legality of the congresses organized by a faction of the PDP loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike. The process had been contentious, with some party members challenging its validity.
It was alleged that allies of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who has had disagreements with Wike, were excluded from participating in the congresses.
In July 2024, Justice Charles Wali of the High Court had issued an injunction restraining the party from proceeding with the congresses. However, the PDP’s national leadership went ahead with the exercise despite the court order.
The latest ruling comes shortly after another High Court nullified the congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, which had resulted in Chief Tony Okocha emerging as chairman.
