The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been ordered by Justice J. K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja not to suspend or expel Gov Wike of Rivers state from the party.
On Monday, February 6, the court gave the ruling in response to an ex parte motion Gov Wike had brought against the PDP’s top leadership.
The PDP, its National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, the National Chairman of the PDP Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, National Secretary of the PDP Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission are respondents in the motion with the file number FHC/ABJ/CS/139/2023, dated and filed on February 2.
By filing the motion, Gov Wike requested an order maintaining the status quo and a stay of all proceedings in this case involving the 1st to 5th Respondents’ threats to suspend or expel him, pending the hearing and resolution of the originating motion.
In addition, Wike requested a court order allowing him to serve the first to fifth respondents in the lawsuit with the move on notice, the originating motion, and all other court-related papers using an alternative method, such as by pasting them on the PDP National Secretariat.
The governor of Rivers state also requested a decree recognizing the aforementioned service as proper service.
The court granted the reliefs requested after reading the affidavit in favor of the motion exparte that was sworn to by one Precious Ikpe and submitted to the court registry.
Justice Omotosho ordered that “all parties in this suit shall maintain peace and shall not take any action or step or act that may make the outcome of the Motion on Notice dated and filed 2nd February, 2023 nugatory and worthless.
“That any act or step or action made so as to make the outcome of the Motion on Notice dated and filed 2nd February, 2023 nugatory shall be a nullity.
“That leave is hereby granted to the Applicant to serve the Originating Motion, Motion on Notice and all other processes of this Court in this suit on the 1st to 5th Respondents by substituted means to wit, by pasting all the said processes of Court on PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone S, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”
The hearing on the motion on notice, which was submitted on February 2nd, 2023, has been postponed until February 14th.
In addition, Justice Omotosho ordered that all Respondents get notice of the hearing.
